Skip to main content

Full text of "History of the One hundred and sixth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, 2d brigade, 2d division, 2d corps, 1861-1865"

See other formats 


'^. 


•  O   »  0  ' 


■*^^ 


.^ 


v^ 


.<;"^^/^. 


C 


^^r^. 


%< 


K<i^ 


,0v 


^-^^     ^ 


^^  -^^ 


0  o 


0  •  »  ^       '^o 


<^. 


^  *^    *  •  . ,  1  •  '* 


0 


'■^-r 


\ 


■>^- 


^  v 

^.     .^f-     /« 


^  ,^^  .\mK/}) 


"^■^^  <^ 


>'    . 


^^'        \     ^.:^^^*,^^'       -^^    V^.^. 


^"•^^. 


o  .   »  '         .0  O^       ^   .  .  s  ^         .  •  ■ 


.Hq. 


Q^' 


- 

^^ 

> 

'  //."'A-^ 


'      ^N^'-V.      -'.J^ 


••/ 


y»' 


^^'^<^ 


^^0^ 

^{5°^ 


V 


v^' 


,4  0, 


.-X' 


,^ 


'^^0> 


^^0^ 

.^^°- 


t^  ^a*' 


6  ^.. 


.^•V 


**-, 


<?, 


^'^^■^    . 


\' 


'^^0^ 


"V     -       ^-    ..     -> 


.0" 


V-  0 
,4  o. 


i^\ll^\'. 


^^-^^^ 


c" 


o'"^ 

"i^- 


Jos.  R.  C.  Ward, 

Notary  Publlv 

5717  GIRARD  AVENUE, 

PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 


.<#^ 


BRIGADIEk-CENERAL  TURNER  G.  MOREH 


Aug.  28.  iS 


EAD. 


April  5,  1864. 
Colonel  io6ih  Regiment    Ppnncvi„o.,:„  ^7  1 

Appointed  BrigadieloelieValTsV^Mrrcrxfi'lfi. 
Discharged  by  S.  O..  April  5,  ,864       ''  ^^'^ 


HISTORY 


One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment 

Pennsylvania  Volunteers 

2d  brigade,  2d  division,  2d  CORPS 
1861—1865 


JOSEPH  R.  C.  WARD,  D.  D.  S. 

Late  Corporal  Company  1,   106lh  Regiment,  P.  V.;  Corporal  Company  C,    1st  Regiment,  N.  G.  P. 

Second  Lieutenant  Company  K,  7lh  Regiment,  N.  G.  P.;  Adjutant  8th  Regiment,  N.  G.  P.; 

Captain  Company  C,  Twentieth  Veteran  Regiment,  N.  G.  P.; 

Major  and  Assistant  Adjutant  General,  3d  Brigade,   1st  Division,  N.  G.  P.; 

Colonel  Thirteenth  Regiment,  N.  G.  P.; 

Colonel  Retired,  N.  G.  P. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

F.  McManus,  Jr.  &  Co. 
1906 


f^<ryi^^  ■ 


-5 


LIBRARY  of  CONGRESS^ 
Two  GoDies  Received 

/^TH    5    1907 

/L    Copyright  Entry 
CUSS     A    XXc,  No, 
COPY  3. 


30 


COPYRIGHT 


JOSEPH  R.  C.  WARD 
1906 


PREFACE. 


In  presenting  this  volttme  to  his  comrades,  friends,  and  those  of  the  pub- 
lic who  may  be  sufficiently  interested  to  procure  a  copy,  the  writer  makes 
no  claims  whatever  for  it  as  a  work  of  any  literary  merit;  but  presents  it 
as  a  plain  statement  of  facts  connected  with  the  history  of  his  Regiment, 
a  Regiment  whose  services  in  camp,  on  the  march  and  in  battle  entitle 
it  to  be  classed  as  one  of  Pennsylvania's  best.  Constituting  a  part  of  the 
brigade  that  bore  the  name  of  the  city  from  whence  nearly  all  of  its  mem- 
bers came,  whose  reputation  was  known,  and  its  services  recognized 
throughout  the  whole  Army  of  the  Potomac,  "The  Philadelphia  Brigade", 
officially  known  as  the  Second  Brigade,  Second  Division  of  the  Second 
Army  Corps,  the  fighting  Corps  of  the  "Army  of  the  Potomac". 

The  facts  have  been  gathered  from  a  diary  kept  by  him  throughout  his 
whole  term  of  service  and  from  letters  written  home  to  family  and  friends, 
describing  in  full  the  campaigns,  marches  and  battles.  He  was  always  with 
his  Regiment,  and  accompanied  it  on  all  its  marches  and  special  duties ;  but 
on  account  of  size  and  age,  was  a  non-conaJ^atant,  so  did  not  go  into  the 
actual  fight  until  Spring  of  1864.  when  he  was  appointed  on  the  staff  of 
the  General  commanding  the  Division ;  up  to  that  time  he  accompanied  it 
so  far  as  to  watch  its  manoeuvring  and  went  over  each  field  after  the  action 
ceased;  so  that  nearly  all  the  facts  here  related  came  under  his  personal 
observation. 

He  has  been  compelled  to  group  facts  with  which  the  Regiment  had  no 
direct  connection,  and  to  mention  movements  of  other  parts  of  the  army,  in 
order  to  continue  the  thread  of  the  story,  to  illustrate  why  that  portion  of 
the  army  of  which  the  Regiment  was  a  part  was  in  such  a  place,  and  per- 
formed such  services,  and  particularly  to  make  the  volume  a  readable  book 
to  those  of  his  comrades  who  have  not  had  the  opportunities  to  know  why 
they  were  compelled  to  endure  sitch  hardships,  make  such  a  march,  or 
fight  such  a  battle,  and  do  not  now  possess  or  have  at  their  command  large 
libraries  from  which  to  obtain  that  information.  He  offers  these  reasons 
as  an  apology  for  going  beyond,  and  including  more  than,  the  history  of 
the  Regiment.  It  may  be  accepted  as  a  history  of  the  Brigade,  as  the  lives 
of  the  four  regiments  composing  it  were  so  entwined  that  the  history  of 
one  is  the  history  of  all. 


iv  PREFACE 

I  '' »-,, 

The  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania  was  not  a  regiment  that  did 
"any  one  particular  brilliant  service  at  any  one  engagement  to  make  it  noted, 
and  then  retired  from  real  active  service  to  point  at  it  as  its  record  and 
pride  themselves  on  the  glory  of  that  achievement,  but  throughout  its  whole 
three  years  service  as  a  Regiment,  and  one  year  as  a  Battalion,  it  was  con- 
stantly called  upon  to  bear  its  part  in  each  engagement  where  it  fought,  and 
its  colors  were  always  seen  where  the  fighting  was  the  hardest,  or,  in  that 
still  more  trying  position,  supporting  artillery  and  compelled  to  remain  in- 
active while  subjected  to  severe  fire  of  shot  and  shell,  and  its  survivors 
can  now  look  back  with  pride  to  the  manner  in  which  that  service  was  per- 
formed, and  feel  that  in  no  instance  was  there  anything  to  cause  them  the 
slightest  humiliation. 

About  thirty  years  ago  the  writer  began  his  labors  on  this  work,  and 
when  Colonel  Banes  decided  to  publish  the  history  of  the  Brigade,  he  felt 
there  was  no  need  to  continue  his  work,  and  gladly  aided  him  with  such 
facts  as  he  possessed ;  but  upon  repeated  requests  and  letters  from  his  com- 
rades, and  the  unanimously  adopted  resolution  of  the  survivors  assembled 
in  re-union  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July,  1882,  where  he  read  to  them  a  brief 
sketch  of  the  Regiment  during  their  whole  term  of  service,  requesting  him 
to  continue  his  labors  and  publish  for  them  the  history  of  the  Regiment, 
he  decided  to  complete  his  work,  now  rendered  more  difficult,  owing  to 
inability  to  collect  from  the  membership  at  large  such  facts  as  are  not 
officially  known,  and  the  many  incidents  that  go  to  make  up  the  life  of 
an  organization  ;  and  yet  somewhat  easier  for  the  official  part  of  its  life, 
owing  to  the  many  publications  that  have  been  issued  during  that  time. 

Recognizing  the  labors,  and  the  ability  displayed  by  Colonel  Banes,  in  pre- 
paring his  book,  "The  History  of  the  Philadelphia  Brigade",  the  writer  has 
adopted  it  as  a  guide  and  been  greatly  aided  by  its  contents ;  and  has 
freely  quoted  such  parts  as  he  thought  would  enrich  his  volume  and  be  in- 
teresting to  his  comrades.  He  has  also  had  reference  to  Swinton's  "Army 
of  the  Potomac"  and  "Twelve  Decisive  Battles  of  the  War"',  Bryant's 
"History  of  the  United  States",  Webb's  "Peninsula",  Rope's  "Army  Under 
Pope",  Palfrey's  "Antietam  and  Fredericksburg".  Doubleday's  "Chancellors- 
ville  and  Gettysburg"  and  Humphreys'  "Virginia  Campaign  of  '64  and  '65", 
and  some  of  the  official  reports  of  Generals  McClellan.  Meade  and  Lee. 

He  cheerfully  acknowledges  his  indebtedness  to  General  Wm.  W.  Burns, 

'  U.  S.  A.,  General  Alexander  S.  Webb,  U.  S.  A.,  General  James  C.  Lynch, 

Captain  Robert  H.  Ford,  Captain  William  N.  Jones.  Captain  Lynford  D. 


CORPORAL  JOS.  R.  C.  WARD. 
Aug.  24,  1861.  Sept.  10,  1864. 

„  .   .,    ,        ,,  ,  As  Musician,  Company  ••I." 

Detailed  as  Mounted  Orderly.  Headquarters  .d  Division,  2d  Corps.  April  i,   1864 

Promoted  to  Corporal,  June  16,  1864.  •  ^' 

Appointed  Chief  of  Orderlies  at  same  Headquarters 

Wounded  at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va.,  May  12    1864 

Mustered  out  with  Company,  Sept,  10,  1864 


PREFACE  V 

C  Tyler,  Lieutenant  William  B.  Rose,  Major  William  H.  Lambert,  for 
their  able  counsel  and  many  kind  favors. 

He  is  also  under  obligations  to  Sergeant  Joseph  N.  Radcliff,  of  Company 
C.  who  placed  at  his  disposal  one  of  the  most  complete  diaries,  kept  by 
him  during  his  four  years'  service. 

Regretting  that  the  task  had  not  fallen  to  one  far  more  competent  to  give 
to  the  public  the  services  of  the  faithful  One  Hundred  and  Sixth,  he  asks 
the  indulgence  of  his  comrades  for  any  errors  that  may  be  discovered.  If 
they  vv^ill  accept  this  History  as  the  best  that  could  be  written  at  this  late 
•day  he  will  feel  that  his  labors  have  no't  been  in  vain ;  but  whatever  their 
verdict  may  be  he  will  ever  subscribe  himself 

Fraternally, 

Jos.  R.  C.  Ward. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

PAGE. 
FORMATION      1 

CHAPTER    H. 

TO    THE    FRONT    5 

CHAPTER    HI. 
ball's  bluff   9 

CHAPTER    IV. 

WINTER  QUARTERS    .' 15 

CHAPTER   V. 

THE     ADVANCE     23 

CHAPTER   VI. 

YORKTOWN      33 

CHAPTER    VII. 

FAIR     OAKS      47 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

THE    SEVEN    DAYS*    FIGHT    60 

CHAPTER    IX. 

TO    THE    RELIEF    OF    POPE     82 

CHAPTER   X.     • 

ANTIETAM      93 

CHAPTER    XL 

MCCLELLAN    RELIEVED     117 


viii  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER    XII. 

PAGE. 
FREDERICKSBURG    127 

CHAPTER   XIII. 

WINTER    QUARTERS     151 

CHAPTER   XIV. 

CHANCELLORSVILLE      162 

CHAPTER   XV. 

IXVASION    OF    PENNSYLVANIA    169 

CHAPTER   XVI. 

GETTYSBURG      181 

CHAPTER   XVII. 

I 
BACK   TO   VIRGINIA    213 

CHAPTER   XVIII. 

WINTER   QUARTERS    AGAIN    230 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

THE     WILDERNESS     237 

CHAPTER   XX. 

SPOTTSYLVANIA      245 

CHAPTER   XXI. 

NORTH    ANNA   AND  TOTOPOTOMOY 257 

CHAPTER   XXII. 

COLD    HARBOR     264 

CHAPTER   XXIII. 

PETERSBURG 273 

CHAPTER   XXIV. 

HOME    AGAIN     284 

CHAPTER    XXV. 

ONE    HUNDRED    AND    SIXTH    BATTALION     286 


CONTENTS  ix 

ROSTER  OF  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT. 

FIELD  AND   STAFF    298 . 

REGIMENTAL    BAND     300 

FIELD    AND    STAFF,    ONE    HUNDRED    AND    SIXTH    BATTALION     301 

COMPANY   A      303 

COMPANY   B      310 

COMPANY   C      316 

COMPANY   D      323 

COMPANY   E      330 

COMPANY   F      335 

COMPANY   G      346 

COMPANY    H     350 

COMPANY   I 360 

COMPANY   K     366 

ROLL  OF  DEAD 377 

LOSSES   BY   COMPANIES    382 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENTS. 

EAST    CEMETERY    HILL,    GETTYSBURG,    PA 386 

CEMETERY  RIDGE,  GETTYSBURG,   PA 390 

ANTIETAM     418 

BIOGRAPHIES. 

GENERAL  TURNER  GUSTAVUS   MOREHEAD    428 

COLONEL   WILLIAM   L.   CURRY    432 

COLONEL   JOHN   H.    STOVER    437 

GENERAL   JAMES    CANNING   LYNCH     440' 

COLONEL   JOS.    R.    C.    WARD    444 

INDEX      451 


INDEX  TO  PORTRAITS. 


PAGE. 

Colonel  Turner  G.  IMorehead Frontispiece. 

Colonel  Jos.   R.   C.   W.\rd    v 

Field  and  Staff    (Original)    4 

Colonel  T.  G.  Morehead,  Lieut. -Colonel  W.  L.   Curry, 

Major  J.  H.  Stover.  Captain  J.  R.  Breitenbach, 

Adjutant  F.  M.  Pleis.  Quartermaster  W.  H.  Stokes. 

Croup.     Staff    15 

.Adjutant  F.   M.  Pleis.  Asst.  Surgeon  Philip  Leidy, 

John  A.   Steel,  "  H.  D.  McLean. 

Grouf.     Non-Commissioned   Staff    33 

Sergt.-Major  Jas.  D.  Tyler,       Sergt.-Major  Wm.  H.  Neiler. 
Drum  Major  Lewis  W.  Grantier. 

Group.     Company  A   48 

Captain  Chas.  S.  Schwartz,        Sergeant  E.  Sherwood  Walton, 
Captain  David  G.  Walton. 

Hospital  at  Fair  Oaks    57 

]\I  A  TOR  JoH  N  H.  Stover   67 

Ge.weral  W.\i.  W.   Burns    76 

Group.     Company  A   80 

Corporal  John   S.  Dove,  Corporal  Geo.  S.  Smith, 

Private  John  S.  Turner. 

Groui'.     Company  B    93 

Captain  Paul  J.  Hallowell,         Sergeant  Alonzo  C.  Schank, 
Private   Henry  Vaughan. 

General  Oliver  O.    IIowarh    102 

Group.     Company  C    112 

Captain  R.  W.  P.  Allen,  Sergeant  Theo.  L.  Lockerman, 

Sergeant  Geo.  W.  White. 

vGroup.     Company  C   127 

Captain  John  W.  Lynch,  Sergeant  Henry  J.  Blair, 

Private  Henry  H.  Spencer. 


INDEX    TO   PORTRAITS  ^  xi 

PAGE. 

"Group.     Company    C 144 

Sergeant  Jonathan  C.  Barnes,  Sergeant  Chas.  H.  Hickok, 
Private  William  W.  Smith. 

Group.     Company    D    150 

Lieutenant  John  Irvin.  Sergeant  Samuel  Irvin, 

Sergeant  William  Irvin,  Corporal  David  Irvin. 

General  Edwin  V.  Sumner   160 

Group.     Company    D    16^ 

Lieutenant  Joshua  A.   Gage,     Corporal  Ellery  J.  Holcomb, 
Sergeant  John  E.  Rockwell,  "         Peter  W.  Scheik. 

Group.     Company    D    180 

Sergeant  Henry  C.  Veil.  Corporal  Giles  M.  Coons, 

Private  John  D.  Turner. 

General  James  C.  Lynch    191 

General  Alexander  S.  Webb   202 

Group.     Company  E 212 

Sergt.  R.  A.  W.  Oestmann,        Mus.  Gustavus  Josephs. 

Group.     Company  F    224 

Lieutenant  James  C.  Biggs.         Private  Jacob  P'ocht. 
Sergeant  R.  F.  Whitmoyer,  "         Thomas  Purcell. 

The  Fl.\g    232 

Group.     Company    I    336 

Captain  Robert  H.  Ford,  Corporal  Jefiferson  Arthur, 

Corporal  Jos.  R.  C.  Ward. 

Group.     Company  G   245 

Sergeant  Allen  S.  Elliott. 

Colonel  Wm.  L.  Curry    247 

Group.     Company    H    257 

Captain  L.  D.  C.  Tyler.  Sergeant  James  S.  Foy, 

Lieutenant  Wm.  B.  Rose.  Private  James  Thompson. 

Group.     Company    H    •. . .     273 

Lieutenant  John  F.  Hassett,       Private  Thos.  Thompson, 
Mus.  G.  J.  R.  Miller,  "        Jonathan  C.  Hallowell, 

Group.     Company    K    280 

Sergeant  Isaac  N.  Harvey,         Private  Giles  R.   Hallem. 


xii  INDEX   TO   PORTRAITS 

PAGE. 

Corps  Mark   (Design)    296 

ARMY   COMMANDERS, 

General  Geo.    B.    McClellan,     General  Jos.  Hooker, 
"        Ambrose  E.  Burnside,        "        George  G.  Meade. 

CORPS   COMMANDERS, 

General  Edwin  V.  Sumner,       General  D.  N.  Couch, 
General  Winfield  S.  Hancock. 

DIVISION   COMMANDERS, 

General  John  Sedgwick,  General  Oliver  O.  Howard, 

General  John  Gibbon. 

BRIGADE   COMMANDERS, 

General  Edward  D.  Baker,        General  Joshua  T.  Owen, 

Wm.  W.  Burns,  "        Alexander  S.  Webb. 

Group  at  Dedication  of  Tablet  at  Gettysburg  386 

Monument  at  Gettysburg  390 

Monument  at  Gettysburg  394 

Bronz;e  Tablet  on  Monument  at  Gettysburg  400 

Group  at  Gettysburg    415 

Monument  at  Antietam    420 

Group  at  Antietam    424 

General  Turner  G.   Morehead    428 

Colonel  Wm.   L.   Curry    432 

Colonel  Joh  n  H.   Stover   437 

General  James  C.  Lynch    44O 

Colonel  Jos.   R.   C.   Ward    444 


HISTORY 


OF  THE 


One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment 

PENNSYLVANIA  VOLUNTEERS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

FORMATION. 

THIS  Regiment,  with  the  exception  of  Company  K,  was  organ- 
ized between  the  8th  day  of  August  and  the  30th  day  of 
September,  1861,  by  Colonel  Turner  G.  Morehead,  of  Philadel- 
phia, a  prominent  and  efficient  officer  of  the  Pennsylvania  Militia, 
immediately  upon  his  return  from  the  three  months'  service  with 
his  former  regiment,  the  Twenty-Second  Pennsylvania.  He  was 
ably  assisted  by  William  L.  Curry,  afterwards  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
and  John  J.  Sperry,  Captain  of  Company  A.  The  Regiment  in- 
cluded many  officers  and  men  of  the  Twenty-Second  and  some 
who  had  served  in  the  Philadelphia  Life  Guards,  a  military  organ- 
ization of  many  years'  standing. 

The  Regiment  was  recruited  as  part  of  the  Baker's  California 
Brigade,  to  be  commanded  by  Colonel  Edward  D.  Baker,  a  United 
States  Senator  from  Oregon,  then  Colonel  of  the  First  California 
Regiment,  which  afterwards  became  the  Seventy-First  Pennsyl- 
vania, he  having  been  especially  commissioned  by  President 
Lincoln  to  raise  that  regiment  and  afterwards  the  brigade,  to  be 
credited  to  the  State  of  California,  which  furnished  the  necessary 
funds  for  organizing,  uniforming  and  equipping  the  brigade. 


2  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1861 

The  first  Regiment  of  the  brigade,  the  thirst  CaHfornia,  or  the 
Seventy-First  Pennsylvania,  was  recruited  mainly  in  Philadelphia 
by  Colonel  Baker  and  Colonel  Isaac  J.  Wistar,  early  in  April, 
1861,  and  sent  to  New  York  with  Edward  D.  P>aker  as  Colonel, 
Isaac  J.  Wistar,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  R.  A.  Parrish,  Major. 

The  second  Regiment  of  the  brigade,  the  Seventy-Second 
Pennsylvania,  or  as  it  was  better  known,  the  Philadelphia  Fire 
Zouaves,  as  it  contained  representatives  from  nearly  all  the  Volun- 
teer Fire  Companies  of  Philadelphia,  was  recruited  in  August  by 
Colonel  D.  W.  C.  Baxter,  who  had  just  returned  as  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  of  the  Nineteenth  Pennsylvania,  three  months'  service, 
and  was  soon  completed  with  De  Witt  Clinton  Baxter  as  Colonel, 
Theodore  Hesser,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  James  M.  De  Witt, 
of  the  Chicago  Zouaves,  Major. 

The  third  Regiment,  or  the  Sixty-Ninth  Pennsylvania,  was 
recruited  by  Colonel  Joshua  T.  Owen,  commander  of  the  Twenty- 
Fourth  Pennsylvania  during  the  three  months'  service,  who  com- 
menced the  organization  of  the  Sixty-Ninth  Regiment  immediately 
upon  being  mustered  out  of  the  Twenty-Fourth,  and  many  of 
his  officers  and  men,  attached  to  him  by  his  genial  disposition  and 
generous  nature,  readily  assented  to  re-enlist  under  him ;  the 
organization  was  soon  completed  with  Joshua  T.  Owen  as 
Colonel,  Dennis  O'Kane,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  John  Qever- 
eaux,  Major. 

Thus  the  entire  brigade  was  recruited  in  Philadelphia,  with  the 
exception  of  three  fine  companies  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
Regiment  from  the  interior  of  the  State.  All  of  its  field  and  staff 
officers,  with  the  exception  of  Major  De  Witt,  of  the  Seventy- 
Second,  and  Major  Stover  and  Surgeon  Dwindle,  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth,  and  nearly  all  of  its  line  officers,  were  from 
Philadelphia,  so  that  with  the  death  of  General  Baker  at  the  battle 
of  Ball's  Bluff,  in  October,  1861,  the  interest  of  California  in  the 
brigade  was  gone,  Pennsylvania  claimed  it  as  her  own,  and  it 
became  known  as  the  Philadelphia  Brigade,  Second  Brigade, 
Second  Division,  Second  Army  Corps. 

The  organization  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment  was 
completed  on  February  28,  1862,  by  the  assignment  of  a  company 
of  sappers  and  miners,  to  be  known  as  Company  K.     It  had  been 


1861] 


FORMATION 


known  as  the  Fifth  Cahfornia  Regiment,  but  then  became,  and 
was  ever  afterwards  known  as,  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
Regiment  Pennsylvania  Vohmteers. 

This  company  was  organized  as  an  independent  company  of 
sappers  and  miners,  with  Woodward  as  Captain,  Carman  First 

Lieutenant,  and Second  Lieutenant,  and  its  assignment  as 

one  of  the  companies  of  the  regiment  creating  much  dissatisfaction. 
They  insisted  upon  remaining  independent,  and  appealed  to 
General  Burns,  who  informed  them  that  the  Government  would 
not  any  longer  recognize  independent  companies,  and  they  would 
have  to  be  assigned  as  Company  K,  and  become  part  of  the 
regiment,  the  same  as  the  other  companies.  This  they  refused 
to  do,  so  General  Burns  ordered  their  discharge  and  they  were  sent 
home.  Previous  thereto  Captain  William  Doyle,  who  had  ex- 
pected to  be  Captain  of  Company  H,  was  authorized,  with  Lieu- 
tenants Fimple  and  Wessels,  to  recruit  Company  K.  Before  the 
Regiment  left  Camp  Observation,  Lieutenant  Wessels  reported 
with  twenty-five  men,  Lieutenant  Fimple  remaining  at  home  re- 
cruiting. Captain  Doyle  was  rejected  and  Lieutenant  Fimple 
received  authority  from  Governor  Curtin  to  recruit  enough  men 
to  complete  the  company,  and  assume  command  as  its  captain. 
He  arrived  at  Harper's  Ferry  with  a  balance  of  seventeen  men,  the 
necessary  number  to  fill  the  quota,  only  to  find  that  the  Company 
had  been  completed  by  a  detachment  of  men  from  the  Sixty-Ninth 
Pennsylvania,  under  Captain  Martin  Frost,  and  mustered  with 
Frost  as  Captain,  himself  and  Wessels  as  Lieutenants. 

The  companies  were  then  officered  as  follows : 


CO. 

CAPTAIN 

FIRST    LIEUTENANT 

SECOND     LIEUTENANT 

A 

John  J.  Sperry 

William   S.   White 

James  C.  Lynch 

B 

J.  J.  Vaughan 

Jos.  T.  Banister 

James   T.   Huey 

C 

R.  W.  P.  Allen 

John   W.   Lynch 

John  A.  Steel 

D 

Samuel  H.  Newman 

William   N.   Jones 

John  Irwin 

E 

Francis  H.  Achuff 

Wyndham  H.  Stokes 

Salatiel  R.  Townsend 

F 

Timothy  Clark 

Wm.   V.   Farr 

William    Brvan 

G 

John    G.  Breitenbach 

Geo.  T.  Egbert 

Joseph    Reed 

H 

Lewis  Bartleson 

Paul   J.    Hallowell 

L.  D.  C.  Tyler 

I 

Robert  H.  Ford 

Eugene  T.  Foliet 

Charles  Wetzler 

K 

Martin  C.  Frost 

Theo.  J.  Fimple 

Francis  Wessels 

THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1861 

The  following  were  the  original  field  and  staff  officers : 

Colonel Turner   G.   Morehead. 

Lieutenant-Colonel     Wlliam  L.  Curry. 

Major     John  H.  Stover. 

Adjutant    Ferdinand  M.  Pleis. 

Quartermaster     Henry  S.  Camblos. 

Surgeon     Justin    Dwinelle. 

Assistant  Surgeon    Philip  J.  Leidy. 

Chaplain    Wm.   C.  Harris. 

Sergeant-Major    Theodore   Wharton. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant   ....  Samuel  L.  Hibbs. 

Commissary-Sergeant     Jacob  Roop. 

Hospital  Steward   Ralph  B.  Clarke. 

Principal    Musician    Frederick  A.  Waugh. 

Leader  of  Band Fridoline  Stopper. 


^cl^^Slit 


1861]  TO  THE  FRONT 


CHAPTER   II. 

TO    THE    FRONT. 

THE  rendezvous  of  the  Regiment  during  formation  was  the 
camp  at  "Bull's  Head",  West  Philadelphia,  where  all  re- 
cruits as  soon  as  mustered  were  ordered  for  uniforming,  equip- 
ping, and  instruction  in  the  duties  of  a  soldier.  This  was  sud- 
denly terminated  b}-  the  following  order  received  by  Colonel  More- 
head  from  Colonel  Baker: 

Philadelphia,  September  29,  1861. 
Colonel: — I  have  just  received  orders  from  General  McClellan, 
to  direct  you  to  move  forward.  You  will  accordingly  march  to- 
morrow evening  for  Washington.  You  will  take  such  steps  as  will 
forward  the  movement,  and  report  to  me  on  your  arrival.  Should 
my  brigade  have  moved  forward  beyond  Washington,  you  will 
join  it  at  once  unless  otherwise  ordered. 

I  am,  colonel,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant. 

E.  D.  BAKER, 
Colonel  commanding  brigade. 
Colonel  T.  G.  Morehead. 

In  compliance  with  the  above  instructions,  orders  were  issued 
and  details  sent  out  to  bring  all  absentees  to  camp  without  delay ; 
those  in  camp  were  not  permitted  to  leave  except  on  duty,  and  all 
hands  were  hard  at  work  packing.  Arrangements  were  complet- 
ed, and  the  Regiment  broke  camp  at  Bull's  Head,  West  Philadel- 
phia, at  9  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  Monday,  September  30th, 
1 86 1,  and  took  up  its  first  line  of  march  to  the  Baltimore  depot. 
Broad  and  Prime  streets,  via  Market  street  to  Eighteenth,  to 
Chestnut,  down  Chestnut  to  Broad,  down  Broad  to  the  depot.  A 
perfect  ovation  greeted  us  along  the  whole  route,  the  people  on 
the  sidewalks  cheering  and  applauding  as  we  passed,  the  excite- 
ment increasing  as  we  reached  the  depot,  the  crowd  already  there 
greatly  augmented  by  the  throng  that  accompanied  us  on  the 


6  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1861 

pavements.  Mothers  embracing;-  their  boys,  wives  and  children 
their  husbands  and  fathers,  and  the  more  subdued,  yet  as  affecting, 
lovers'  good-bye,  all  tended  to  sadly  impress  those  participating. 
Amid  intense  excitement  we  were  placed  in  the  cars  and  at  one 
o'clock,  with  cheer  after  cheer  breaking  the  stillness  of  midnight, 
the  train  started  on  its  way,  bearing  another  detachment  of  our 
country's  defenders,  who  were  severing  the  closest  ties  that  bind 
man  to  earth,  to  die,  if  need  be,  "that  our  flag  should  remain  un- 
sullied and  our  country  undivided".  Many  were  there  who  clasp- 
ed the  hands  of  their  loved  ones  then  for  the  last  time,  as  they  did 
die  in  defense  of  their  country  or  were  stricken  down  by  disease 
that  hurried  many  a  brave  man  into  an  untimely  grave. 

Havre-de-Grace  was  not  reached  until  five  o'clock,  and  three 
more  hours  were  consumed  before  we  arrived  at  Baltimore ;  it 
was  eight  o'clock  when  we  steamed  slowly  into  the  depot ;  we  were 
glad  to  obey  the  order  to  "fall  in",  and  the  march  through  the 
streets  to  the  Washington  depot  was  quite  a  relief.  After  par- 
taking of  the  breakfast  furnished  us,  we  were  packed  like  cattle 
into  dirty  cattle  cars,  with  rough  pine  boards  fastened  to  the 
slats,  arranged  for  seats,  and  nearly  a  third  more  men  packed 
into  each  car  than  the  improvised  seats  would  accommodate.  We 
thus  experienced  our  first  army  hardship,  for  we  really  thought 
then  it  was  hardship,  little  dreaming  that  before  we  would  again 
pass  over  that  road  we  would  be  called  upon  to  endure  many 
real  hardships,  trials  and  privations.  Yet  it  was  hard  to  stand 
packed  for  six  long  hours  in  those  not  only  uncomfortable,  but 
dirty  and  offensive,  cars,  as  we  left  Baltimore  at  eleven  o'clock  and 
did  not  arrive  at  Washington  until  five  o'clock.  Many  were  the 
anathemas  hurled  at  the  railroad  authorities  who  could  provide 
no  better  means  of  transportation  for  men  loyal  enough  to  for- 
sake home,  family  and  friends,  to  defend  their  country  against 
treason ;  little  did  we  know  then  that  they  were  doing  all  they 
possibly  could,  so  great  was  the  demand  made  upon  them.  As 
stated  above  it  was  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  October  ist, 
when  we  arrived  in  Washington,  and  how  glad  we  were  to  leave 
the  cars  and  relieve  our  cramped  bodies !  We  were  marched  by 
companies  into  the  "Soldier's  Retreat"  for  supper,  so  tired,  so 
hungry,  and  what  awaited  us  ?    No  soldier  who  stood  around  that 


1861]  TO  THE  FRONT  7 

dirty,  greasy  pine  table,  extending  the  full  length  of  that  long 
dingy  room,  will  ever  forget  that  meal.  Buckets,  that  had  held 
soup  for  the  previous  meal,  without  much  time  or  care  taken  for 
cleaning  them,  containing  the  coffee  for  this  one,  with  grease 
swimming  on  top,  were  set  in  the  middle  of  the  table,  about  ten 
feet  apart ;  a  large  hunk  of  boiled  salt  beef,  or  as  we  afterwards 
knezv  it  "salt  horse",  put  on  another  large  hunk  of  bread,  the  fat 
and  liquor  of  one  completely  saturating  the  other,  and  set  on 
the  table  alongside  of  a  tin  cup  at  such  intervals  as  to  designate 
the  place  for  each  man  to  stand,  this  was  our  supper,  and  though 
hungry  from  a  long  fast,  with  appetite  sharpened  by  a  long  ride, 
that  supper  remained  untouched,  and  the  writer  marched  out  with 
his  company,  still  a  hungry  boy.  We  were  quartered  for  the 
night  in  the  large  buildings  on  the  ground  adjoining  the  Capitol 
ground  on  the  east,  built  for  the  accommodation  of  troops. 

The  next  afternoon,  October  2d,  the  line  was  re-formed,  and  we 
marched  to  and  up  Pennsylvania  Avenue  to  Seventh,  and  out 
Seventh  street  about  two  and  a  half  miles  and  camped.  The  next 
day  we  marched  to  Rockville,  and  camped  near  there  for  the 
night,  and  on  the  following  day,  October  4th,  marched  to  and 
beyond  Darnestown,  passing  camps  of  troops  all  the  way,  and 
among  them,  about  dinner  time,  the  camp  of  the  Twenty-Ninth 
Pennsylvania,  Colonel  John  K.  Murphy.  A  halt  being  made, 
many  of  us  accepted  the  hospitalities  of  the  members  of  the 
Twenty-Ninth  and  took  dinner  with  them,  some  of  our  men 
meeting  friends  among  them.  On  the  next  day,  October  5th, 
we  started  at  daylight  and  soon  arrived  at  Poolesville,  Montgomery 
County,  Maryland,  and  reported  to  General  Charles  P.  Stone, 
commanding  the  division  to  which  our  brigade  was  assigned. 
The  General  reviewed  us  and  sent  an  aide  to  conduct  us  to  our 
brigade  camp  about  five  miles  from  Poolesville,  reporting  to 
Colonel  Baker.  We  found  the  First  California  and  the  Fire 
Zouave  Regiments  of  our  brigade  already  encamped,  and  on  the 
next  day  Owen's  Irish  Regiment  arrived  and  the  brigade  was 
complete.  Our  Regiment  camped  on  a  high  elevation  of  ground 
from  which  we  could  see  the  batteries  of  the  enemy  on  the  other 
side  of  the  Potomac  ;  the  adjoining  field  was  occupied  by  the 
Zouaves. 


8  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1861 

We  were  soon  at  work  putting  up  our  tents,  making  ourselves 
comfortable,  and  preparing  for  camp  life.  Compan}'  A,  Captain 
John  J.  Sperry,  here  joined  us;  they  had  been  temporarily  as- 
signed to,  and  known  as,  Company  S,  of  the  First  California 
Regiment,  having  left  Philadelphia  early  in  September  to  join 
that  Regiment  and  then  stationed  at  Washington,  and  went  with 
it  to  Chain  Bridge,  and  then  to  "Camp  Advance"  in  Virginia. 
They  participated  with  that  Regiment  in  the  skirmish  of  the 
movement  of  General  W.  F.  Smith  towards  Drainsville,  and  were 
now  assigned  to  and  made  part  of  our  Regiment. 


18G1]  BALL'S  BLUFF 


CHAPTER   III. 

ball's  bluff. 

ALL  will  remember  our  first  camp.  How  hard  we  tried  to 
accustom  ourselves  to  the  limited  accommodations  of  camp 
life,  and  the  scarcity  of  what  seemed  to  us  necessities  for  one's 
existence,  and  yet  how  soon  we  became  reconciled  and  accepted 
the  inevitable. 

Drill  and  instruction,  with  camp  guard  and  picket  duty,  kept  all 
pretty  well  occupied ;  the  great  difficulty  then  experienced  by  some 
of  the  officers  was  to  get  their  men  to  understand  what  was  requir- 
ed of  a  soldier,  to  acquire  proficiency  in  drill  and  to  submit  to  disci- 
pline, can  now  be  readily  understood  and  appreciated,  but  then 
it  was  hard,  and  while  the  officers  labored  hard,  the  men  sometimes 
thought  they  were  imposed  upon  and  that  they  would  never  be 
able  to  stand  it,  yet  after  each  hour's  drill,  or  the  end  of  a  tour 
of  guard  or  picket  duty,  all  was  soon  forgotten,  and  the  next  time 
we  were  more  ready,  and  stood  it  better  and  felt  that  in  time  we 
could  be  good  soldiers.  Guard  duty  was  performed  by  com- 
panies, each  company  taking  its  turn,  and  two  companies  at  a 
time  were  sent  out  on  picket. 

Nothing  unusual  or  out  of  the  ordinary  routine  of  camp  life 
occurred  until  about  midnight  of  October  20th  when  the  long  roll 
was  sounded  and  all  was  commotion,  and  excitement,  men  were 
hurried  into  line  in  the  company  streets ;  some  excited  and  alarm- 
ed, trying  to  do  everything  and  doing  nothing;  others,  cool  and 
collected,  were  carefully  equipping  themselves,  examining  their 
arms  and  equipments,  and  assisting  others  to  get  ready.  After 
remaining  in  line  some  time  we  were  quietly  dismissed  without 
any  satisfactory  cause  for  the  alarm,  and  we  were  making  up 
our  minds  that  it  was  a  false  alarm  and  only  given  that  they 
might  see  how  quickly  the  men  could  be  put  under  arms,  when 
orders   were   received  to  get  ready  to  march   at   short  notice. 


10  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1861 

Breakfast  was  soon  disposed  of,  and  at  six  o'clock  we  left  camp 
and  marched  to  the  brigade  parade  ground,  where  we  were  soon 
joined  by  the  Sixty-Ninth  and  Seventy-Second  Regiments,  stack- 
ed arms  and  awaited  orders  from  Colonel  Baker,  who  had  gone 
to  the  front  with  the  Seventy-First  Regiment  about  four  o'clock; 
long  hours  of  anxiety  and  suspense  passed,  all  sorts  of  rumors 
were  afloat,  until  finally,  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
the  assembly  was  sounded,  line  re-formed,  and  the  Brigade  moved 
oflf  at  a  rapid  pace,  the  Seventy-Second  leading,  then  the  Sixty- 
Ninth,  and  our  Regiment  bringing  up  the  rear.  After  over  an 
hour's  rapid  marching  we  arrived  at  the  canal  and  crossed  on 
an  impromptu  bridge  formed  by  canal  boats,  and  marched  down 
the  tow-path  to  the  ferry,  where  the  troops  were  crossing  over  to 
Harrison's  Island ;  here  a  deplorable  state  of  affairs  was  visible ; 
two  large  scows  capable  of  holding  about  thirty  men  each  were 
the  only  means  of  transportation  to  the  Island,  and  part  of  the 
men  were  kept  busy  bailing  out  the  water  and  others  in  pushing 
them  across ;  from  the  Island  to  the  Virginia  shore  a  ferry  boat 
that  would  hold  about  sixty  was  the  only  means  of  reaching  the 
mainland.  All  the  morning  from  daylight  had  been  consumed 
in  crossing  about  one-half  of  the  Fifteenth  Massachusetts,  a 
detachment  of  two  hundred  of  the  Twentieth  Massachusetts  and 
the  right  wing  of  the  California  Regiment,  or  Seventy-First 
Pennsylvania,  the  troops  as  fast  as  they  landed  were  pushed  for- 
ward, and  soon  met  the  enemy  who  disputed  their  further  ad- 
vance and  the  fight  was  on,  the  firing  could  be  distinctly  heard 
from  our  position,  and  as  each  load  of  reinforcements  was  taken 
over,  a  load  of  wounded  was  brought  back,  together  with  the 
conflicting  reports  as  to  the  results,  which  were  eagerly  sought 
by  us,  waiting  to  be  ushered  into  our  first  fight.  One  detachment 
would  report  our  men  driving  them,  another  that  the  enemy  had 
been  reinforced  and  was  driving  our  men  back ;  again  that  we 
had  recovered  lost  ground  and  again  driving  them.  The  sound 
of  the  battle  was  distinctly  heard,  and  though  we  were  anxious  to 
go  to  their  assistance  we  were  unable  to  cross  for  want  of  means 
of  transportation,  and  so  were  compelled  to  remain  inactive 
between  the  river  and  canal. 

About  5  o'clock  a  report  was  received  of  the  death  of  General 


1861]  BALL'S  BLUFF  11 

Baker,  for  he  had  just  been  appointed  Major-General  of  Volun- 
teers by  President  Lincoln  and  the  order  was  found  in  his  hat 
after  his  death,  saturated  with  his  life's  blood.  He  was  in- 
stantly killed,  with  sword  in  hand,  while  gallantly  leading  his  men ; 
this  was  followed  by  the  news  that  our  men  were  completely 
routed  after  gallantly  repulsing  the  enemy  three  different  times 
and  making  a  gallant  charge  to  attempt  the  capture  of  their  bat- 
tery, they  being  compelled  to  give  battle  on  very  unfavorable 
ground,  being  an  open  field  surrounded  by  woods  in  which  the 
enemy  were  concealed.  Large  reinforcements  for  the  enemy 
had  arrived  from  Leesburg  and  they  greatly  outnumbered  our 
men  who,  with  their  leader  killed  and  no  chance  of  any  support 
reaching  them,  were  making  for  the  shore  as  rapidly  as  possible 
over  the  open  field,  subjected  to  a  terrible  fire  from  the  concealed 
enemy.  Here  matters  became  worse,  for  the  retreat  was  follow- 
ed closely  by  the  now  victorious  enemy,  all  further  escape  was  cut 
off,  the  only  conveyance  from  the  Virginia  shore  to  the  Island, 
the  ferry  boat,  had  been  sunk  with  a  load  of  wounded,  nearly  all 
of  whom  were  drowned.  There  was  no  escape  for  our  brave  men, 
who  had  stood  up  so  manfully,  they  were  either  to  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy  or  jump  into  the  river  and  try  to  make  our 
shore ;  many  therefore  surrendered  and  became  prisoners  of  war 
and  others  plunged  into  the  river  and  tried  to  reach  the  Island. 
Many  of  these  never  reached  there,  but  were  drowned,  or  shot  by 
the  enemy,  who  now  thronged  the  banks  and  unmercifully  fired 
into  our  men  while  in  the  water ;  many  of  their  shots  coming 
over  to  where  the  rest  of  the  Brigade  was,  we  were  therefore 
compelled  to  withdraw  very  quietly  so  as  not  to  attract  their  fire, 
as  they  could  have  done  us  great  damage,  especially  with  their 
artillery.  In  a  drenching  rain  we  returned  to  camp,  arriving  there 
about  midnight. 

The  loss  of  General  Baker  cast  a  gloom  over  the  Brigade.  The 
short  time  that  he  had  been  with  us  endeared  him  to  us  and  had 
gained  him  the  title  of  "Father  Baker".  Many  were  the  expres- 
sions of  sorrow  and  regret,  which  were  in  some  measure  over- 
come by  the  gallantry  of  his  death,  and  the  country  lost  one  of 
its  most  gifted  orators,  an  eminent  statesman  and  one  who  would 
no  doubt  have  become  one  of  its  most  gallant  soldiers.     Our  loss 


12  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1861 

was  very  heavy  indeed,  for  the  small  force  engaged.  Colonel 
Wistar  was  wounded  three  times ;  Captains  Markoe  and  Keiff  er 
wounded ;  Captain  Otter  kill  or  drowned  in  trying  to  recross 
and  Lieutenant  Williams  killed ;  all  of  the  First  California,  or 
Seventy-First  Pennsylvania.  Of  the  five  hundred  and  twenty 
men  that  crossed  over,  three  hundred  and  twelve  were  lost. 
The  other  regiments  also  suffered  very  heavily.  We  lost  two 
pieces  of  artillery,  but  no  colors.  It  may  be  well  to  add  here 
that  the  Color-Sergeants  of  the  California  Regiment,   Sergeant 

Charles  Vanzant  and seeing  the  danger  that  threatened 

their  colors,  to  prevent  them  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
plunged  with  them  into  the  river,  but  finding  their  strength 
giving  out,  to  save  themselves  finally  threw  them  away,  and  both 
colors  were  lost,  never  to  be  recovered. 

Our  first  engagement  did  not  cease  to  be  a  matter  of  comment 
for  a  long  time.  Its  loss  was  keenly  felt  by  all  and  many  were 
the  uncomplimentary  remarks  heard  on  all  sides  against  those  who 
either  planned  or  attempted  to  carry  out  such  a  movement, 
especially  with  the  limited  means  of  transportation  at  hand.  General 
Charles  P.  Stone,  commanding  the  Division,  received  most  of  the 
censure.  I  certainly  think  he  was  largely  to  blame.  He  was  pre- 
sent and  saw  that  it  was  impossible  to  cross  any  number  of  troops 
in  any  kind  of  reasonable  time,  and  if  any  accident  should  happen 
to  any  of  the  boats  used  in  transportation,  with  no  others  to  replace 
them,  all  communication  would  be  lost  and  retreat  cut  off.  That 
such  an  accident  did  happen,  with  such  fearful  results,  is  seen 
above;  instead  of  leaving  such  a  small  detachment  without  the 
means  of  rapidly  reinforcing  them,  it  would  have  been  better-  to 
have  withdrawn  them  at  once  and  left  the  battle  vmfought,  than 
to  have  left  them  with  that  fearful  possibility  staring  them  in  the 
face,  to  be  driven  like  sheep  into  the  river  to  be  drowned,  after 
bravely  fighting  at  such  disadvantage,  with  such  heavy  loss.  He 
certainly  must  have  known  that  the  enemy  had  the  facilities  of 
rapidly  reinforcing  their  troops  to  a  much  greater  extent  in  a 
much  quicker  time  and  that,  sooner  or  later,  we  must  suffer  defeat. 

Colonel  Banes,  in  his  "History  of  the  Philadelphia  Brigade", 
states  that  the  following  letter  was  found  on  the  body  of  General 
Baker  after  his  death : 


1861]  BALL'S  BLUFF  ,  13 

"Headquarters  Corps  of  [Here  a  bullet  struck,  and  a  word  missing.] 

Edwards'  Ferry,  October  21st,  1861. 
Colonel  E.  D.  Baker,  Commander  of  Brigade. 

Colonel  : — In  case  of  heavy  firing  in  front  of  Harrison's  Island, 
you  will  advance  the  California  Regiment  of  your  Brigade,  or  re- 
tire the  regiments  under  Colonels  Lee  and  Devens,  now  on  the 
(almost  illegible  by  blood)  Virginia  side  of  the  river,  at  your  dis- 
cretion, assuming  command  on  arrival. 

Very  respectfully  Colonel,  your  obedient  servant, 

Chas.  p.  Stone, 
Brigadier  General  Commanding. 

and  continues  as  follows : 

Heavy  firing  was  heard,  and  Colonel  Baker  decided  to  reinforce 
Devens.  Leaving  instructions  to  forward  the  artillery  as  quickly  as 
possible,  he  hastened  over  to  the  Virginia  side  and,  assuming  com- 
mand, began  to  make  the  dispositions.  Companies  A  and  D, 
under  Captain  Markoe,  were  sent  forward  on  the  left  as  skirmish- 
ers, to  ascertain  the  position  of  the  enemy's  right  flank.  They  had 
advanced  but  a  short  distance  when  they  came  suddenly  on  the 
right  of  his  line  of  battle  concealed  in  a  dense  wood,  and  were  at 
once  hotly  engaged.  The  action  thus  brought  on  soon  became  gen- 
eral. The  ground  on  which  Baker's  forces  were  compelled  to 
give  battle  was  very  unfavorable  for  them.  It  was  an  open  field — 
a  sort  of  oblong  square,  the  length  running  at  right  angles  with 
the  river — bordered  on  three  sides  by  a  dense  forest,  and  termin- 
ating on  the  fourth  at  the  brow  of  a  high  bluff  on  the  shore. 

This  would  seem  to  show  that  General  Stone  had  placed  the 
whole  responsibility  upon  Colonel  Baker  and  given  him  discre- 
tionary power  either  to  advance  reinforcements  or  retire  the 
whole  force,  and  that  Colonel  Baker  had  assumed  the  respon- 
sibility and  decided  to  reinforce  and  advance.  Be  that  as  it 
may,  General  Stone  zvas  in  command  of  that  advance,  and  murt 
have  known  that  the  troops  would  have  to  return,  and  provision 
should  have  been  made  to  provide  a  safe  means  of  retreat,  and  if 
none  could  have  been  provided,  no  advance  ought  to  have  been 
made ;  he  should  not  have  yielded  to  the  impetuosity  of  his  inferior 
officers  by  attempting  to  do  battle  wdth  no  chance  of  support  and 
no  way  of  retreat ;  granting  that  the  boat  had  not  been  sunk,  what 
chancd  was  there  of  recrossing  about  1500  men  if  pressed  rapidly 


14  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1861 

and  closely  to  the  water  edge,  when  the  most  that  could  be  got 
into  the  boat  was  about  loo,  and  over  half  an  hour  consumed 
in  making  a  trip  from  shore  to  island,  and  back  for  another  load. 
Yet  General  Stone  had  telegraphed  to  General  McClellan :  "I 
have  the  means  of  crossing  125  men  once  in  ten  minutes  at  each 
of  the  two  points." 

One  cannot  but  feel  that  General  Stone  was  responsible  and 
to  blame ;  this  feeling  was  entertained  by  nearly  all  the  command ; 
their  confidence  in  him  as  a  leader  was  gone,  so  that  had  he  been 
retained  in  command,  demoralization  would  have  been  the  result. 

The  left  wing  of  the  First  California  Regiment  was  on  detach- 
ed service  and  was  not  at  the  battle,  and  those  that  were  left  of 
the  right  wing  were  sent  to  join  them  on  the  26th,  where  they 
remained  until  the  evening  of  the  30th,  when  they  returned  and 
joined  the  Brigade. 


iojUTAM-  Fekdinam)  M.  Pleis. 
>8,  1861.  Aug.  2,  1863. 

ndcd  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  1863. 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Aug.  2,  1863.     Wounds 


Adjutant  John  A.  Steel. 

.'^.ug.  13,  1861.  Sept.  10,  1864. 

Second  Lieutenant,  Company  C. 

Promoted  to  First  Lieut.,  Company  B,  Sept.  17,  18 

Promoted  to  Adjutant,  Aug.  15,  1863. 

Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  1862, 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va,,  Dec.  13.  1862, 

Wounded  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  18,  1864. 

Mustered  out  with  Regiment,  Sept.  10,  1864. 


REGIMENTAL  STAFF. 


SSISTANT    SUKGEON    PhILIP    LeIDY. 

1,  1861.  Sept.  6,  1862. 

Discharged  by  G.  O.,  Sept.  6,  1862. 


Assistant  Surceon  H.  D.  McLean. 

Nov.  5,  1862.  Dec.  5,  1863, 

Discharged  by  G.  O.    Dec.  5,  1863. 


1861]  WINTER  QUARTERS  15 


CHAPTER   IV. 

WINTER    QUARTERS. 

THE  loss  of  General  Baker  was  long  felt.  All  spoke  of  him 
with  affection  and  admiration ;  pictures  of  him  were  eager- 
ly sought:  many  were  sent  home  to  family  and  friends  that  they 
might  sympathize  with  us  and  have  some  idea  of  the  man  whose 
death  we  mourned :  small  pictures  and  medals,  arranged  as  badges 
were  worn  by  many  of  the  men  for  a  long  time,  thus  showing 
their  loyalty  to  their  brave  old  commander,  whom  we  would 
cheerfully  have  followed  wherever  duty  called.  His  successor 
was  soon  appointed,  and  in  ten  days,  that  is  on  October  31st, 
Brigadier  General  William  W.  Burns,  of  the  Regular  Army, 
arrived  and  took  command.  He  at  once  instituted  rigid  dis- 
cipline, holding  both  officers  and  men  to  a  strict  accountability  for 
the  prompt  and  proper  discharge  of  all  the  duties  of  a  soldier, 
omitting  not  the  slightest  particular.  This  tended  to  make  him 
extremely  unpopular  at  first,  but  as  time  passed  we  better  under- 
stood him,  and  the  immense  value  of  such  training ;  and  before 
the  first  campaign  was  over  he  became  very  popular,  in  fact  quite 
a  favorite,  equally  admired  with  Baker. 

He  was  always  on  the  watch  to  detect  and  punish  either  officer 
or  man  for  neglecting  or  slighting  their  duty,  and  an  instance 
occurred  in  our  regiment  which  so  impressed  the  men  that  they 
never  forgot  it.  As  he  was  crossing  the  guard  line  into  our  camp, 
Private  Collum,  of  Company  E,  was  walking  from  him  with  his 
gun  on  his  shoulder ;  the  general  slipped  up  behind  him,  snatched 
the  gun  from  his  shoulder,  read  the  man  a  lecture  on  his  duty 
while  on  guard,  told  him  to  call  the  corporal,  then  sent  for  the 
officer  of  the  guard  and  had  Collum  put  in  the  guard  house  and 
kept  him  there  three  days. 

On  November  4th,  our  Regiment  moved  camp  from  the  open 
field  on  the  top  of  the  hill  over  beyond  a  large  wood  which  would 
shelter  us  somewhat  from  the  wind  and  storm,  also  take  us  from 
sight  of  the  enemy,  as  our  former  camp  was  plainly  visible  to 


16  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1861 

them  from  the  other  side  of  the  river  and  I  beHeve  in  range,  so 
that  they  could  have  troubled  us  w^ith  their  long-range  guns  had 
they  been  so  disposed. 

We  were  now  to  go  into  "winter  quarters",  and  all  that  could 
be  done  to  make  us  comfortable  was  attempted.  Large  Sibley 
tents  with  stoves  were  issued  in  place  of  the  little  "A"  tents,  and 
about  20  men  assigned  to  a  tent  wath  plenty  of  straw  to  sleep  on ; 
extra  blankets  were  issued,  bake  ovens  built  to  supply  us  with 
fresh  bread,  and  when  the  first  issue  was  made  how  we  enjoyed 
it — many  ate  their  whole  day's  ration  at  one  meal,  but  by-and-by 
they  could  not  eat  their  allowance  in  a  day.  Other  rations  were 
plenty,  and  now  that  we  had  become  reconciled  to  army  fare,  we 
enjoyed  it.  Clothing  was  scarce  the  early  part  of  the  winter, 
but  was  soon  supplied.  A  thorough  inspection  of  our  uniform 
and  underclothing  revealed  the  fact  that  new  and  better  was 
needed.  Newspapers  were  plenty,  sent  by  mail  or  brought  into 
camp  for  sale ;  letters  were  received  and  sent.  We  were  there- 
fore kept  posted  as  to  how  things  were  at  home  and  the  latest  war 
news  from  the  front,  and  many  were  the  rumors  set  afloat  concern- 
ing ourselves:  at  one  time  we  were  to  join  Burnside  in  his  expedi- 
tion south,  at  another  time  we  were  sure  to  go  to  Harper's  Ferry 
to  relieve  Geary,  and  still  another  to  go  to  Washington  for  provost 
guard  duty,  and  many  other  similar  reports.  Each  was  positive  in- 
formation from  a  reliable  source,  but  each  in  turn  was  found  to  be 
very  unreliable,  and  the  anxiety  first  occasioned  as  each  fresh 
report  started  soon  quieted  down ;  the  frequency  of  the  reports 
and  their  failure  of  fulfilment  made  them  finally  lose  their  effect, 
and  they  received  the  appropriate  name  of  "chin  music". 

The  regular  routine  of  camp  life  was  now  fully  carried  out ; 
squad,  company  and  battalion  drills,  dress  parade,  inspection,  and 
the  still  sterner  duty  of  guard  and  picket.  Many  were  the  at- 
tempts made  to  get  excused  from  this  latter,  including  the  ready 
response  to  the  "doctor's"  or  "sick  call",  often  without  avail. 
Each  company  was  detailed  in  a  body  for  guard  and  picket  duty, 
the  turn  for  guard  comiftg  about  once  a  week,  and  picket  about 
every  month  or  six  weeks,  two  companies  going  at  a  time,  when 
they  remained  for  seven  days.  Our  position  was  on  the  Potomac, 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Conrad's  Ferry. 


1861]  WINTER  QUARTERS  17 

The  vigilance  required  during  the  night  while  on  picket, 
knowing  the  enemy  to  be  near,  was  a  strain  on  the  nerves  of  some 
of  the  men,  causing  them  to  imagine  almost  anything.  A  private 
of  Company  C  thought  he  heard  one  of  the  corporals  concocting 
a  plan  to  shoot  him  while  on  his  post,  and  say  it  was  done  by  the 
enemy.  This  so  worked  upon  him  that  he  could  not  stay  on  his 
post,  but  left  it  and  came  back  to  the  camp  fire  with  fear  plainly 
depicted  upon  his  countenance,  and  no  amount  of  persuasion  from 
the  men,  or  threats  from  the  officers,  could  induce  him  to  return ; 
he  constantly  watched  every  movement  of  that  corporal  during 
the  balance  of  that  night,  and  in  the  morning  it  was  found  that 
his  hair,  which  had  been  black  as  the  raven's  wing,  was  consider- 
ably mixed  with  gray,  owing  to  the  fright  of  that  night.  Captain 
Allen  sent  him  to  the  hospital  for  treatment,  but  after  close  ex- 
amination he  was  returned  to  duty,  and  subsequently  did  his  duty 
well  until  the  battle  of  Savage  Station,  when  he  left  the  line 
through  fear,  but  afterward  returned.  He  was  subsequently  wound- 
ed at  Fredericksburg,  December  13,  1862,  and  discharged  on 
account  of  same. 

The  main  trou1)le  that  we  had  was  the  want  of  money ;  we  had 
been  away  from  home  now  over  two  months,  and  yet  there  was 
no  sign  of  "pay-day".  Men  were  in  need  of  things  that  "Uncle 
Sam"  did  not  provide,  or  the  sutler  (with  his  accommodating 
smile  and  ready  reply,  when  asked  what  he  had,  "I  got  ebery  ting 
vat  de  boys  like")  did  not  have.  Families  at  home  were  appealed 
to  and  responded,  again  appealed  to,  and  again  as  generously 
responded.  Other  families  were  in  need  of  the  pay  of  their  head, 
who  had  left  them  for  the  army,  and  their  calls  were  frequent  and 
urgent ;  yet  no  pay  came.  Many  w^ere  the  complaints,  and  yet 
no  relief ;  nor  could  any  information  be  gained  as  to  when  the 
relief  would  come,  or  the  cause  of  delay,  except  that  there  was 
some  irregularity. 

Colonel  Banes  states  that  "this  delay  in  settlement  arose  from 
a  misunderstanding  between  the  State  authorities  and  the  War 
Department  concerning  the  muster  of  the  regiments,  and  was 
finally  settled  by  the  issue  of  an  order  'that  the  muster  of  the  regi- 
ments of  Baker's  brigade,  although  irregular,  is  hereby  authorized 
and  approved'  ".     Finally,  on  December  6th,  the  paymaster  made 


18  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1861 

his  appearance,  and  we  were  paid  off,  but  only  for  September, 
October,  and  the  few  days  of  August.  This  was  a  relief,  and 
made  us  happy,  as  we  knew  that  the  matter  now  was  settled,  and, 
as  the  first  payment  had  been  made,  we  would  soon  get  another. 

The  men  were  now  enabled  to  get  some  luxuries,  as  we  then 
felt  them  to  be,  and  frequent  visits  were  made  to  the  neighboring 
farm-houses  for  chickens,  turkeys,  pies  and  cakes,  besides  enjoy- 
ing many  a  full  dinner  prepared  for  us  by  appointment.  Some 
of  the  more  enterprising  farmers  prepared  their  articles  and 
brought  them  into  camp,  and  found  ready  sale  to  both  officers 
and  men,  and,  thus  encouraged,  made  a  regular  business  of  it. 
Sometimes  they  would  suffer  from  the  desire  of  some  to  get 
more  than  they  paid  for ;  an  appeal  to  the  Colonel  would  neces- 
sitate a  search,  and  if  the  guilty  party  were  found  he  was  sure 
of  being  punished.  Sometimes  the  company  officers  would  settle, 
and  the  matter  be  dropped,  but  if  caught  again,  the  delinquent 
would  have  to  suffer  the  disgrace  of  being  compelled  to  march 
under  guard  with  a  placard  on  his  back,  marked  "Thief". 

In  Company  H  was  a  musician  named  Sullivan,  who,  from  his 
pugnacious  disposition,  had  been  nicknamed  "Yankee  Sullivan". 
He  had  a  propensity  of  getting  more  than  belonged  to  him,  and 
one  day  pulled  the  wool  over  the  eyes  of  an  old  farmer  who  had 
brought,  among  other  things,  a  fine  large  roasted  turkey,  which 
fascinated  Sullivan,  who,  after  inquiring  the  price,  said  he  would 
take  it,  and  went  to  his  tent  for  his  money,  taking  the  turkey  with 
him.  The  old  man  waited  and  waited,  but  Sullivan  did  not  come 
back.  It  must  be  remembered  that  these  people  were  not  allowed 
inside  the  guard  line,  nor  the  members  of  the  Regiment  outside 
without  a  pass ;  so  that  most  all  the  trading  had  to  be  done  at  the 
line.  After  waiting  a  long  while  the  farmer  went  around  to  the 
guard  house  and  made  complaint  to  the  officer  of  the  guard,  who 
conducted  him  to  the  Colonel,  who,  upon  hearing  the  old  man's 
story,  at  once  ordered  a  search  to  be  made,  which  resulted  in 
finding  the  turkey  in  Sullivan's  tent ;  he,  upon  being  questioned, 
insisted  that  he  had  received  it  in  his  box  from  home,  but  on 
inquiry  it  was  found  he  had  received  no  box,  and  was  confronted 
by  the  old  man,  who  identified  him  and  the  turkey.  Sullivan  was 
compelled  to  pay  the  old  man  for  the  turkey,  was  then  taken  to 


1861]  WINTER  QUARTERS  19 

the  guard  house,  and  compelled  to  march  up  and  down  in  front 
of  it  under  guard  for  two  or  three  days  with  the  turkey  tied  to 
his  back.  That  was  bad  turkey  for  Sullivan,  for  it  never  left  him ; 
ever  after  he  was  called  "Turkey".  This,  at  first,  he  was  dispos- 
ed to  resent,  but  found  it  no  use,  and  had  to  swallow  his  morti- 
fication. 

There  were  other  modes  of  punishment  that  were  frequently 
put  in  use  for  those  requiring  it ;  among  them  one  was  to  compel 
the  prisoner  to  ride  the  "horse",  which  was  a  log  of  wood,  raised 
about  six  feet  from  the  ground,  resting  on  two  forks  driven  into 
the  ground,  on  which  the  men  were  to  sit  straddle  for  hours  at 
a  time;  another  was  to  "carry  the  knapsack",  that  is,  to  be  com- 
pelled to  march  up  and  down  all  day  with  a  knapsack  strapped  to 
the  back  containing  about  thirty  or  forty  pounds  of  stones ;  at 
other  times  to  carry  a  heavy  log  of  wood  on  the  shoulders,  etc. 

There  was  an  addition  to  the  staff  of  the  Regiment,  of  a  Chaplain 
by  the  name  of  Rev.  William  Harris,  an  estimable  gentleman. 
On  December  9th  he  preached  his  first  sermon,  and  regularly 
every  Sabbath  afterwards.  He  was  very  much  liked  indeed,  and 
had  with  him  quite  a  library  of  books,  which  he  loaned  freely.  He 
was  of  much  service  to  the  men,  assisting  them  to  get  their  money 
home  to  their  families  after  each  pay-day,  besides  rendering 
spiritual  consolation  to  those  members  of  the  Regiment  who  were 
religiously  inclined,  and  I  am  pleased  to  record  that  there  were 
many. 

The  health  of  the  Regiment  during  our  camp  at  Poolesville  was 
unexceptionably  good.  In  the  official  report  of  the  Medical 
Director  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  he  states  that  of  the  total 
membership  of  the  Regiment — 1036 — but  fifteen  were  sick  either 
in  camp  or  general  hospital,  that  being  the  lowest  percentage  of 
any  regiment  in  the  service,  with  three  exceptions. 

Many  of  the  men  were  made  the  happy  recipients,  from  time  to 
time,  of  boxes  from  the  loved  ones  at  home,  filled  as  only  loving 
hearts  and  willing  hands  could  fill  them,  with  just  what  was  want- 
ed: the  outer  man  provided  for  with  good  warm  underclothing, 
stockings,  gloves  and  boots,  and  the  inner  man  with  roast  turkeys, 
chickens,  home-made  bread,  cake  and  pies,  pickles  and  preserves, 
which,  with  some,  were  generously  shared  with  their  tent-mates 


20  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1861 

and  friends.  But  there  were  exceptions  to  this  generosity ;  one 
case  occurred  in  our  tent.  Several  of  us  had  received,  at  differ- 
ent times,  our  boxes,  and  had  generously  shared  their  contents 
with  our  tent-mates,  when  one,  a  little  Englishman,  now  residing 
at  Frankford.  received  a  box  after  all  of  ours  had  been  disposed  of, 
and  we  were  again  ready  for  a  little  change  from  "Uncle  Sam's" 
fare.  He  brought  it  into  the  tent,  opened  it,  examined  all  that 
was  in  it,  closed  it  up  and  put  it  up  at  the  head  of  his  bed.  At 
each  meal  he  would  dive  into  the  box,  take  out  some  of  the  good 
things,  eat  what  he  could,  and  put  the  rest  back,  never  once  offer- 
ing the  smallest  particle  to  any  one  of  us  who  were  eating  our  plain 
government  fare  at  his  side,  not  even  to  those  whose  generosity 
he  had  shared,  as  he  refused  nothing.  This  went  on  for  two 
days.  On  the  third  day  "Johnny"  went  on  guard,  and  when  he 
came  in  to  dinner  he  went  to  his  box,  and  lo!  it  was  empty;  not 
a  vestige  of  anything  was  left.  The  scene  that  followed  may  be 
imagined.  Nobody  knew  anything  about  it,  nor  was  anything 
ever  found  out  about  it.  although  the  captain  was  appealed  to  and 
all  hands  questioned ;  "mum"  was  the  word  with  all.  The  writer 
received  a  box,  sent  by  some  of  those  good  lady  friends  who  were 
always  working  for  the  soldiers,  containing  a  large  number  of 
cloth  gloves  which  were  distributed  among  the  members  of  the 
company,  and  many  times  were  those  dear  ones  at  home  blessed 
for  the  comfort  they  gave  during  the  cold  days  and  nights  while 
on  duty.  These  boxes  frequently  contained  more  than  enumerated 
above,  that  which  nearly  every  soldier  longs  for — "whiskey".  A 
bottle  would  quite  often  be  found  among  the  contents,  but  these 
got  to  be  so  numerous,  and  their  effects  so  visible,  that  an  order 
was  issued  that  all  boxes  would  be  opened,  and,  if  found  to  con- 
tain whiskey,  the  box  and  contents  would  be  confiscated.  This 
was  finally  changed,  so  that  only  the  whiskey  would  be  confiscat- 
ed. This  led  to  more  care,  and  many  were  the  devices  planned 
to  smuggle  it  in,  for  some  men  would  have  their  whiskey  if  they 
got  nothing  else.  It  was  put  up  as  canned  tomatoes  and  peaches, 
care  being  taken  to  preserve  the  labels ;  bottles  were  put  inside 
of  roast  turkey  and  nicely  covered  with  filling;  large  loaves  of 
bread,  when  nearly  done,  had  the  top  lifted  carefully,  the  inside 
scooped  out,  the  bottle  nicely  put  in,  and  top  put  back  into  place. 


1862]  WINTER  QUARTERS  21 

Large  cakes  were  served  the  same  way,  illustrating  the  old  saying 
that,  "where  there  is  a  will  there  is  a  way",  so  that  the  boys  got 
their  whiskey,  notwithstanding  the  prying  eyes  of  the  officers. 

As  has  been  stated,  our  Regiment  was  known  as  the  Fifth  Cali- 
fornia Regiment,  but  the  death  of  General  Baker  lost  us  that  name, 
and  Pennsylvania  claimed  the  brigade  as  her  troops,  and  we  were, 
about  the  middle  of  November,  designated  as  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth  Pennsylvania. 

In  the  early  part  of  January  a  case  of  smallpox  was  discover- 
ed in  camp ;  with  it  came  the  scare  that  follows  that  loathsome 
disease,  and  nearly  all  hands  were  vaccinated  immediately. 

On  January  loth.  Colonel  Morehead  was  presented  with  a  hand- 
some sword,  sash  and  belt  by  the  officers  and  men  of  Company  F. 
Adjutant  Pleis  brought  it  on  from  Philadelphia.  Captain  Clarke 
presented  it  to  the  Colonel  on  behalf  of  the  company,  and  the 
Colonel  received  it,  speaking  in  a  very  feeling  manner,  assuring 
the  men  of  his  determination  to  wear  it  with  honor  to  them  and 
himself. 

About  this  time  extensive  preparations  were  being  made  for 
another  attempt  to  cross  the  Potomac.  Large  numbers  of  flat 
boats,  capable  of  holding  about  thirty  men  each,  were  brought 
up  the  canal  and  held  ready  for  use,  our  men  were  also  busy 
and  hard  at  work  building  a  large  fort  near  Conrad's  Ferry. 
While  so  working,  Private  William  Brown,  of  Company  I 
was  badly  injured  by  a  heavy  log  falling  on  him,  breaking 
some  of  his  ribs,  and  an  ambulance  had  to  be  sent  to  take 
him  to  the  hospital.  With  all  these  preparations  came  the 
usual  reports  of  a  move;  each  day  was  to  bring  the  necessary 
orders,  but  each  day  passed  and  the  orders  did  not  come. 
On  January  13th,  Colonel  Morehead  went  on  to  Harrisburg  to 
secure  more  men  and  an  additional  company  for  the  regiment 
and  returned  on  the  29th.  He  had  succeeded  in  getting  a  number 
of  recruits  and,  having  the  company  of  sappers  and  miners  pre- 
viously alluded  to,  assigned  to  the  regiment  as  Company  K. 

On  the  same  day,  "A  Burial  Association"  was  formed  for  the 
purpose  of  sending  home  the  bodies  of  the  members  of  the 
association  who  died,  or  were  killed  in  action,  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Curry  was  elected  President,  Major  Stover    Vice-Presi- 


22  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

dent,  Captain  Allen  Secretary,  Corporal  J.  N.  Radcliffe  Re- 
cording Secretary,  Chaplain  Harris  Treasurer.  The  members 
were  to  contribute  so  much  as  dues  ($98.75  was  paid  in  when  the 
men  were  paid  off  in  February),  but  the  association  died  a  natural 
death  after  being  called  upon  to  perform  its  sad  duty  for  one 
member,  and  Private  John  Anderson,  of  Company  H,  who  died 
February  nth,  1862,  was  the  first  one  sent  home,  to  Canton, 
Bradford  County,  Pa.,  on  February  12th. 

On  the  night  of  February  ist.  thirteen  of  the  enemy  deserted, 
came  over  into  our  lines,  and  gave  themselves  up.  They  were 
sent  to  General  Burns's  headquarters,  who  examined  them  and 
sent  them  to  division  headquarters. 

February  5th  was  pay  day  and  we  were  again  paid  and  made 
happy. 

On  the  1 2th,  on  dress  parade,  we  received  the  glorious  news 
of  the  success  of  General  Burnside's  expedition  in  North  Carolina, 
and  after  the  reading  of  the  order,  the  Colonel  proposed  three 
cheers  for  the  "Union".  They  were  given  with  a  will,  and  quick- 
ly followed  by  three  more  for  the  army,  then  the  navy,  the  flag. 
General  Burns  and  Colonel  Morehead,  all  hands  giving  themselves 
up  to  the  enthusiasm  of  the  hour.  It  was  the  first  real  good  news 
we  had  received  since  our  disaster  at  Ball's  Bluff ;  and  the  officers 
and  men  enjoyed  it,  the  band  played  the  "Star  Spangled  Banner" 
and  "Yankee  Doodle",  and  many  of  the  men  were  hoarse  from 
cheering. 

On  the  14th,  Captain  Bartleson,  of  Company  H,  was  presented 
with  a  handsome  sword  by  his  company. 

February  22nd,  Washington's  birthday,  was  celebrated  in  all 
the  camps.  Our  Regiment  was  drawn  up  in  line,  and  fired  a 
national  salute  of  thirty-four  rounds  by  companies,  each  company 
constituting  a  round.  A  hollow  square  was  then  formed,  and 
Major  Stover  read  Washington's  Farewell  Address ;  cheer  after 
cheer  was  then  given,  and  the  band  played  the  national  airs. 

After  the  line  was  dismissed,  Captain  Achuff,  of  Company  E, 
was  presented  with  a  handsome  sword  by  his  company.  Major 
Stover  making  the  presentation  speech,  and  Captain  Clarke,  of 
Company  F,  received  it  on  behalf  of  Captain  Achuff. 


1862]  THE  ADVANCE  23 


CHAPTER    V. 

IHE     ADVANCE. 

THE  time  had  now  arrived  for  us  to  commence  an  active 
campaign ;  we  were  now  to  give  up  our  comfortable  winter 
quarters,  though  the  winter  was  not  yet  over,  and  to  ex- 
perience the  hardships,  toils,  privations  and  dangers  of  active 
service. 

On  February  23d.  orders  were  received  to  prepare  to  move  at 
once.  All  hands  at  once  set  to  work  to  make  such  disposition  of 
our  accumulated  property  as  we  could ;  some  things  were  packed 
in  boxes  and  sent  home,  others  destroyed,  and  those  we  thought 
we  could  not  do  without  were  packed  in  our  knapsacks ;  ammuni- 
tion was  issued,  each  man  receiving  40  rounds. 

At  daylight  of  the  24th  we  were  awakened  by  the  booming  of 
cannon,  telling  us  that  the  advance  was  being  made  and  contested. 
As  we  did  not  get  marching  orders,  the  work  of  packing  and 
destruction  w^as  still  continued ;  letters  were  hastily  written  home, 
telling  our  families  and  friends  that  we  were  at  last  to  start  on 
an  active  campaign,  glad  to  give  up  the  monotony  of  camp  life. 

February  25th.  All  excitement  and  commotion,  tents  all  dis- 
appeared, and  our  once  beautiful  camp,  that  had  been  our  home 
so  long,  now  presented  the  appearance  of  a  deserted  village ;  yet 
there  were  few  regrets  as  at  10  o'clock  the  line  was  formed,  and 
we  marched  ofif,  bidding  farewell  to  "Camp  Observation".  All 
were  glad  that  the  dull  monotonous  routine  of  camp  life  and  duty 
was  to  be  replaced  by  the  excitement  and  change  of  an  active 
campaign,  in  which  we  would  have  an  opportunity  to  test  our 
mettle,  and  win  a  name  for  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsyl- 
vania. As  we  trudged  over  the  steep  and  rugged  sides  of  "Old 
Sugar  Loaf  Mountain",  that  had  been  so  long  visible  from  our 
camp  the  growl  of  the  old  soldier  began,  as  he  labored  beneath 
his  heavily-loaded  knapsack,  and  many  were  the  "unkind"  remarks 
showered  upon  the  innocent  mountain  that  required  such  laborious 


24  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

efforts  to  "pass  him  by !"  This,  our  first  day's  march,  told  on 
the  men,  and  many  were  unable  to  keep  up.  After  thirteen  miles 
march  we  arrived  at  Adamstown.  about  4  o'clock,  near  which  we 
camped  for  the  night.  Here  the  comforts  of  our  old  quarters 
were  sadly  missed,  but  before  we  started  again  even  some  of 
those  we  had  brought  with  vis  were  dispensed  with,  and  so  on 
from  day  to  day ;  men  began  to  find  out  how  little  was  really 
necessary,  and  that  it  was  bad  enough  to  be  pack  mules  for  what 
was  indispensable  and  compulsory.  This  was  our  first  night  at 
really  "camping  out",  and  that  in  the  middle  of  winter,  with  no 
tents ;  nothing  to  sleep  on  but  the  gum  blanket,  six  feet  long,  three 
feet  wide,  issued  to  us  before  leaving  camp,  and  but  a  single 
blanket  to  cover  us,  so  that  we  suffered  very  much  with  the  cold. 

Next  morning  remained  in  camp,  but  at  2  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon again  resumed  the  march  to  "Point  of  Rocks",  where  we 
were  to  take  the  cars  for  Harper's  Ferry,  but  upon  arriving  there 
found  that  there  were  no  cars  there,  so  we  were  kept  waiting  until 
dark.  In  the  meantime  a  heavy  rain-storm  set  in  which  complete- 
ly drenched  us,  and  when  the  cars  did  come,  although  we  found 
them  the  same  old  cattle  cars  with  their  rough  boards  for  seats, 
yet  it  was  with  pleasure  that  we  sought  their  shelter,  a  decided 
contrast  to  what  our  feelings  were  when  first  called  upon  to  ride 
in  them  on  that  first  day  from  home,  enroute  to  Washington,  four 
months  before.  As  soon  as  all  were  aboard  we  started  and 
arrived  at  Sandy  Hook  about  half  past  i  o'clock,  but  received 
orders  to  remain  in  the  cars  until  daylight,  so  tried  to  make  our- 
selves comfortable  and  obtain  what  sleep  the  circumstances  would 
permit  in  our  wet  and  cold  condition. 

February  27th.  The  sun,  in  all  her  brightness  and  warmth, 
welcomed  us  as  we  tumbled  out  of  the  cars  about  6  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  cramped  and  stiffened  by  the  cold  and  crowded 
quarters.  We  were  soon  in  line  and  marched  to  where  two  pon- 
toon bridges  were  thrown  across  the  river,  one  for  troops  and  the 
other  for  artillery  and  wagon  trains.  With  the  One  Hundred  and 
Sixth  Regiment  leading  the  column,  we  crossed  the  Potomac, 
landing  on  the  "sacred  soil  of  Virginia"  about  8  o'clock,  and  with 
colors  flying  and  band  playing  we  marched  through  the  town  and 
were  soon  quartered  in  the  empty  houses,  the  Regiment  being 


1862]  THE  ADVANCE  25 

retained  as  Provost  Guard  and  Colonel  Morehead  appointed 
Provost  Marshal. 

Part  of  the  uniform  of  the  Regiment  consisted  of  high  black 
felt  hats  with  black  feather  plumes,  and  were  worn  with  one  side 
of  the  rim  fastened  up  by  a  gilt  eagle ;  a  gilt  bugle  ornamented  the 
front ;  these  hats  had  never  been  much  liked  by  the  men  and  many 
were  the  attempts  made  to  get  rid  of  them,  only  to  have  a  new  one 
issued  and  the  cost  charged  against  the  delinqvtent ;  but,  when 
about  the  head  of  the  column  was  on  the  bridge,  a  hat  was  myster- 
iously seen  to  drop  overboard ;  soon  another  followed ;  that  was 
sufficient;  the  signal  had  been  given,  the  opportunity  was  just 
what  the  men  wanted,  and  it  was  astonishing  to  see  how  easily 
the  light  breeze,  that  hardly  afifected  the  surface  of  the  water, 
carried  those  hats  overboard ;  their  number  increased  as  each 
succeeding  company  stepped  on  the  bridge,  until  they  presented 
the  appearance  of  a  large  flock  of  ducks  or  other  water  fowls 
quietly  floating  down  stream,  or  as  if  an  army  had  been  swept 
overboard  and  lost,  with  nothing  left  to  tell  the  tale  but  their 
Tiats.  Notwithstanding  the  positive  orders  of  the  officers  and 
their  strenuous  efforts  to  prevent  it,  the  number  of  hats  increased 
imtil  the  last  company  had  landed.  The  two  days'  march  and 
the  night  spent  in  the  cars  but  increased  the  men's  dislike  to  them, 
and  some  of  those  who  had  not  taken  advantage  of  the  kindness  of 
the  breeze  disposed  of  theirs  in  other  ways  until,  upon  coming  on 
the  first  dress  parade  thereafter,  so  many  were  found  missing  that 
they  were  ordered  to  be  abandoned. 

Our  division  was  temporarily  assigned  to  General  Banks's  com- 
mand, which  was  to  force  a  crossing  of  the  Potomac  at  Harper's 
Ferry  and  to  push  up  the  Shenandoah  Valley  to  Winchester,  and 
■during  the  next  two  days  these  troops,  with  their  ammunition  and 
supply  trains,  were  continuously  crossing.  During  that  time  we 
remained  quiet,  and  the  writer  availed  himself  of  the  opportunity 
to  take  a  run  of  the  town,  now  deserted,  many  houses  still  con- 
taining the  furniture,  but  the  owners  gone.  A  visit  to  what  was 
the  government  buildings  presented  a  deplorable  sight ;  the  build- 
ings all  burnt  to  the  ground ;  nothing  but  the  blackened  walls  were 
standing.  These  buildings,  together  with  a  large  quantity  of 
stores,  had  been  destroyed.     We  also  visited  the  old  Engine  House 


26  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

made  famous  by  John  Brown,  and  occupied  by  him  during  his 
invasion  of  A'irginia  in  1859  for  the  purpose  of  hberating  the 
slaves,  and  in  which  he  so  long  defended  his  life,  and  ever  after- 
wards called  "Fort  John  Brown".  We  looked  through  the  same 
hole  that  he  fired  through,  sang  "John  Brown's  body  lies  mould- 
ering in  the  ground,  but  his  soul  goes  marching  on" ;  and  finally 
chipped  from  the  window-sash  pieces  of  wood  to  be  sent  home  as 
relics. 

On  Sunday,  March  2d,  we  were  compelled  to  give  up  our 
quarters  in  the  houses,  and  were  marched  out  to  Bolivar  Heights 
in  a  severe  northeast  snow-storm,  where  we  were  kept  waiting 
over  an  hour  before  we  received  our  tents  and  got  them  up.  By 
that  time  the  ground  was  covered  nearly  an  inch  deep,  and  the 
wind  blowing  so  hard  that  great  difficulty  was  experienced  in 
putting  up  the  same  large  Sibley  tents  that  we  had  at  Camp 
Observation. 

On  the  3d,  five  companies.  A,  B,  C,  D  and  E,  and  two  pieces 
of  artillery,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  William' 
L.  Curry,  were  ordered  to  take  possession  of  Loudon  Heights,, 
on  the  other  side  of  the  Shenandoah  River.  Leaving  camp  about 
8  o'clock,  we  marched  back  to  the  town,  and  the  ferry — the  old- 
style  rope  ferry — that  is,  a  large  rope  stretched  across  the  river,  to- 
which  is  attached  a  large  flat-bottomed  boat  by  ropes  and  pulleys ; 
the  boat  is  carried  from  one  side  to  the  other  by  the  force  of  the 
current.  As  the  boat  would  only  hold  about  thirty  men,  nearly 
all  day  was  consumed  in  crossing.  Then  we  had  to  climb  up  that 
steep  and  slippery  mountain,  in  a  heavy  northeast  storm  of  snow 
and  rain,  the  ground  and  trees  being  all  coated  with  ice,  which 
made  it  very  hard ;  but  we  had  to  go.  We  reached  the  top  of 
Loudon  Heights  at  last,  and  relieved  a  detachment  of  Geary's- 
Twenty-Eighth  Pennsylvania.  Here  we  were  to  stay,  with  no 
shelter  but  a  few  rude  huts  or  sheds,  made  of  logs  and  brush,  that 
had  been  hastily  put  up  by  the  "Twenty-Eighth".  We  w^ere  glad, 
however,  to  seek  their  shelter,  but  in  a  few  days  sorry  that  we  did, 
as,  to  our  horror  and  disgust,  we  found  that  our  predecessors  had 
not  taken  away  all  that  belonged  to  them,  but  left  some  of  the  huts 
well  inhabited ;  and  it  was  here  that  many  of  us  for  the  first  time 
made  the  acquaintance  of  the  "grayback",  that  subsequently  stuck 


1862]  THE  ADVANCE  27 

SO  close  to  us  during  our  tramp  through  \^irginia ;  neither  intense 
heat  nor  bitter  cold  had  any  effect  to  shorten  their  existence  or 
drive  them  away  from  us. 

There  we  stayed,  exposed  to  that  very  inclement  weather — 
snow,  rain  and  cold ;  the  very  clouds  descending  and  enveloping 
us — with  such  limited  accommodations,  and  a  scarcity  of  provi- 
sions, and  tried  to  realize  that  our  patriotism  required  us  to  faith- 
fully serve  our  country  under  such  distressing  circumstances, 
and  be  content. 

When  the  weather  cleared,  we  were  afiforded  one  of  the  finest 
views  of  the  country,  and  those  of  us  who  saw  it  will  never  forget 
it.  Standing  on  that  high  mountain,  we  saw  the  beautiful 
Potomac  coming  down  from  the  north,  and  the  Shenandoah  from 
the  south,  as  though  cutting  their  way  through  the  steep  moun- 
tain ;  here  uniting  together  and  running  off  to  the  east  and  south. 
At  the  point  where  these  two  rivers  join.  Harper's  Ferry  is  built 
on  a  high  hill,  but  from  our  point  of  view  looked  very  low ;  a 
little  farther  west  is  the  town  of  Bolivar  and,  beyond  that,  Bolivar 
Heights;  the  Charlestown  Pike,  "a  good  broad  highway  leading 
down",  leading  through  one  and  past  the  other  till  lost  in  the 
distance,  then  lined  with  long  trains  of  wagons,  slowly  moving 
along;  others  were  parked  in  different  places,  as  were  also  the 
many  batteries  of  artillery ;  the  many  camps  of  the  large  force  of 
troops  then  concentrating  there  were  dotted  on  plain  and  hillside 
as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach.  Artillery,  cavalry  and  infantry, 
with  their  rows  upon  rows  of  white  tents,  and  large  numbers  of 
horses  picketed  in  rows,  companies  and  regiments,  could  be  seen 
moving  about  in  all  directions  as  they  were  exercised  in  company 
and  regimental  drills  and  on  dress  parade,  and  the  music  of  the 
different  bands  was  gently  wafted  towards  us.  all  indicating  the 
great  preparations  for  and  the  presence  of  war  ;the  beautiful  Shen- 
andoah Valley  now  turned  into  a  vast  camping  ground  for  that 
large  army.  Turning  to  the  other  side,  an  entirely  different  view- 
met  our  eye.  Before  us  lay  the  beautiful  and  fertile  Loudon 
Valley,  which,  if  the  season  had  been  further  advanced,  would 
have  been  clothed  in  all  her  beauty  of  verdure,  and  flowers,  fruit, 
and  grain.  There  were  now  no  signs  of  war  on  her  peaceful 
plains ;  all  was  quiet ;  but  when  another  spring-time  came,  she  too 


28  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

had  tasted  the  bitter  draught  of  war,  and  her  fertile  fields  were 
trodden  down  by  the  tramp  of  that  same  large  army.  Looking 
to  the  north,  across  the  Potomac,  Maryland  Heights,  in  all  their 
grandeur,  loomed  up  before  us,  from  whose  top  our  flag  floated 
in  warning  and  defiance,  and  our  guns  sent  their  messengers  of 
war  over  into  the  land  now  recovered  and  occupied  by  our  troops. 
The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  with  its  branches,  could  be 
seen  winding  their  way  like  large  snakes  around  the  base  of  the 
mountain,  and  like  tender  threads  in  the  distance,  and  at  our  feet 
the  long  pontoon  bridges  stretched  across  the  Potomac.  And  so 
the  eye  could  wander  from  one  beauty  to  another,  distance  lend- 
ing enchantment,  and  picture  to  ourselves  what  a  beautiful  sight 
it  must  be  in  spring-time  and  summer,  when  those  valleys  were 
clothed  in  all  the  beauty  of  green  grass  and  ripening  grain  and 
fruit,  and  those  hills  covered  with  those  massive  trees  in  leaf. 

On  the  7th,  Banks'  division  pushed  forward  on  the  Winchester 
Pike  beyond  Charlestown ;  a  reconnoissance  w^as  made,  and  it  was 
thought  that  the  enemy  would  make  a  stand  at  Winchester.  Gen- 
eral Sedgwick's  division  (that  is  our  division)  was  then  ordered 
forward. 

On  the  loth,  the  five  companies  of  our  Regiment  were  with- 
drawn from  Loudon  Heights,  recros^ed  the  Shenandoah  River, 
and  joined  the  remainder  of  our  Regiment  at  Harper's  Ferry 
about  9  o'clock  in  the  morning,  raining  all  the  time.  Two  com- 
panies, F  and  G,  under  command  of  Major  Jno.  H.  Stover,  were 
left  behind  as  provost-guard  at  Harper's  Ferry,  with  Captain 
Timothy  Clark,  of  Company  F,  as  Provost  Marshal,  Colonel 
Morehcad  having  been  appointed  Provisional  Governor.  The 
remainder  marched  with  the  division  to  Charlestown.  a  distance 
of  twelve  miles,  arriving  there  about  4  o'clock,  and  camped  for 
the  night. 

On  the  nth.  left  camp  about  8  o'clock,  marched  to  Berryville, 
and  camped  about  a  mile  and  a  half  beyond,  being  then  about  nine 
miles  from  Winchester. 

We  remained  in  camp  on  the  12th.  Our  Regiment  was  en- 
camped in  a  wood  near  the  edge,  opening  into  a  large  meadow, 
across  which  the  men  had  to  go  for  water  to  the  well  of  a  large 
mansion  on  a  slight  elevation  beyond.     The  owner  of  this  prop- 


1862]  THE  ADVANCE  29 

erty  had  not  yet  felt  the  ravages  of  war ;  his  stock  of  pouhry, 
hog's,  sheep  and  cows  remained  untouched,  and  a  guard  was 
stationed  at  the  house  for  their  protection.  We  had  been  depriv- 
ed of  these  luxuries  for  some  time  and  now  looked  on  them  with 
longing  eyes.  Strict  orders  had  been  received  that  no  private 
property  was  to  be  molested,  and  we  were  tuo  nczu  soldiers  to 
attempt  their  disobedience ;  the  guards  were  very  quick  in  arrest- 
ing any  one  who  attempted  to  disobey ;  but  notwithstanding  their 
vigilance  the  more  venturesome  would  slyly  knock  over  a  chicken 
or  a  duck,  slip  it  under  his  coat  and  carry  it  into  camp,  only  to 
tempt  his  comrades  or  divide  among  some  of  them  enough  to 
make  them  wish  for  more.  Shortly  after  noon,  while  going 
across  the  meadow  with  some  canteens  for  water,  the  writer  saw 
some  men  chasing  a  nice  little  "porker"  ;  both  men  and  ]:>ig  seemed 
nearly  exhausted,  when  I  kindly  ofifered  my  services  to  despatch 
"the  critter"  with  my  pistol,  which  I  had  provided  myself  with 
before  leaving  home,  and  with  it  sufficient  ammunition  to  slaught- 
er hundreds  of  rebels,  as  I.  in  my  boyish  notion,  fully  expected 
to  be  called  upon  to  do,  and  as  fully  expected  to  do :  but  up  to 
this  time  it  had  not  been  aimed  at  any  living  thing  except  at  an 
occasional  rabbit  while  at  Camp  Observation,  without  doing  the 
rabbit  any  harm.  My  offer  was  accepted,  for  they  did  not  dare 
to  use  their  guns,  as  their  much  louder  reports  would  have  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  the  guards.  The  first  shot  on  the  run 
did  not  stop  him,  but  after  a  short  chase  he  stopped  for  breath, 
and  quietly  closing  up  on  him  at  very  short  distance,  with  the 
next  shot  I  brought  him  down.  I  immediately  rushed  upon  him, 
and  with  a  penknife  cut  his  throat,  and  looking  up,  feeling  well 
satisfied  with  my  own  skill,  was  surprised  to  see  my  comrades,  to 
whose  assistance  I  had  so  generously  come,  making  for  the  near- 
est fence  on  a  full  run,  and  on  turning  around  found  myself  in 
the  hands  of  the  Provost  Guard,  who  greeted  me  with,  "You 
young  rascal ;  we  have  got  you  now,  and  we  will  make  short  work 
of  you."  With  fear  my  eyes  were  as  big  as  saucers,  and  my 
tongue  silent,  the  blood  of  the  pig  still  dripping  from  my  hands. 
Just  then  the  officer  came  up,  who  surveyed  first  the  pig  and  then 
me,  and  asked  what  I  had  to  say  for  myself:  if  I  had  not  heard 
the  orders  forbidding  such  things,  and  that  the  penalty  for  dis- 


30  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

obedience  of  orders  was  death,  no  doubt  enjoying  my  frightened 
appearance.  I  did  the  best  I  could  to  get  out  of  it  by  lying.  I 
said  I  was  going  for  water,  pointing  to  the  canteens,  and  that 
these  men  had  killed  the  pig  but  had  no  knife  to  cut  his  throat 
and  asked  me  for  mine,  (I  had  lost  several  knives  since  leaving 
home  and  had  adopted  the  plan  of  fastening  this  one,  with  a  long 
buckskin  string,  to  the  pocket  of  my  pants),  and  not  wishing  to 
break  the  string  (showing  the  knife  and  string),  had  volunteered 
to  cut  the  pig's  throat,  which  I  was  doing  just  as  the  guards 
came  up,  my  pistol  having  been  put  away  and  concealed  from 
view ;  he  questioned  me  very  closely,  and  I  was  all  the  more  posi- 
tive in  my  assertions  of  innocence.  He  finally  released  me  with 
a  lecture  on  obedience  of  orders,  and  a  belief  in  the  truth  of  my 
statement.  The  guards  having  gone  after  the  running  men,  he 
went  after  them  and  I  after  the  water.  Upon  my  return  I  found 
that  the  men,  having  eluded  the  guards,  had  returned  and  dragged 
the  pig  to  the  corner  of  the  fence  and  were  hard  at  work  cutting 
him  to  pieces,  and  rewarded  me  with  one  quarter  of  his  pigship, 
as  my  share  for  helping  them,  which  furnished  me  and  my  tent- 
mates  with  a  good  dinner  and  supper. 

This  and  similar  success  on  the  part  of  others  urged  on  the  more 
timid,  and  many  were  the  successful  charges  made,  until  the  lard- 
er of  nearly  every  tent  was  replenished.  Chickens,  ducks  and 
geese  fell  an  easy  prey  to  the  "advancing  hosts".  Soon  not  one 
could  be  found ;  then  the  remaining  "porkers"  were  similarly  dis- 
posed of,  and  finally  the  bee  hives  were  carried  to  camp,  their  in- 
mates smoked  out,  and  the  honey  added  to  the  bill  of  fare  for  that 
night's  supper  and  next  morning's  breakfast.  It  seemed  to  me 
that  as  soldiers  men  became  as  children,  and  thought  it  no  harm 
to  help  one's  self,  or  in  other  words  to  steal  anything  to  eat ;  and 
as  soldiers,  did  many  things  which,  if  they  were  at  home,  they 
would  never  think  of  doing. 

On  the  13th  we  started  for  Winchester.  The  booming  of  the 
artillery  of  the  day  before  impressed  us  with  the  belief  that  a 
battle  was  impending;  that  our  services  were  needed,  and  we 
should  become  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  last.  After  a  march 
of  six  miles  the  column  was  halted,  orders  were  countermanded, 
we  "about    faced",    and    returned    to    our    camp    at    Berryville. 


1862]  THE  ADVANCE  31 

"Stonewall  Jackson",  with  his  forces,  having  retired  from  Win- 
chester, General  Banks,  no  longer  required  the  services  of  Sedg- 
wick's Division.  It  was  ordered  to  rejoin  the  corps,  and  early 
the  next  morning,  March  14th,  broke  camp  and  marched  back 
to  Charlestown,  camped  on  our  former  camping  ground,  and 
on  the  15th  returned  to  our  camp  at  Bolivar  Heights,  picking  up, 
as  we  passed  through  Charlestown,  the  detachment  of  the  brigade 
that  had  been  left  there  to  guard  the  town.  As  on  the  occasion 
of  our  first  encampment  on  Bolivar  Heights  when  we  suffered  the 
inconvenience  of  a  snow  storm,  so  again  we  came  into  camp  in 
a  bad  northeast  storm ;  this  time  rain,  and  again  had  to  wait  over 
an  hour  for  the  tents,  and  then  pitch  them  on  muddy  ground. 

General  Burns,  our  brigade  commander,  speaking  of  this  move- 
ment, said : 

This  brigade  had  barely  two  months  of  drill  and  discipline  after 
the  demoralizing  effects  of  Ball's  Blufif,  when  winter  set  in,  pre- 
cluding exercise  of  muscle  or  morals,  both  thereby  becoming  re- 
laxed, when  in  midwinter,  February,  the  ill-judged  campaign  across 
the  Potomac,  at  Harper's  Ferry,  to  open  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  was  ordered,  in  snow,  rain  and  mud,  without  shelter 
or  supplies,  not  for  a  military  purpose,  but  for  a  civil  advantage 
to  monopoly,  against  the  protest  of  General  McClellan.  Burns' 
Brigade  lost  in  confidence  and  morale  most  of  the  good  of  the 
two  months'  discipline,  blighting  the  self-reliance  and  ambition 
which  go  to  make  the  true  soldier ;  to  overcome  such  influence  and 
march  to  victory  was  the  crown  of  self-abnegating  duty. 

The  men  seemed  demoralized,  yet  they  cheerfully  did  their 
duty;  time  had  gradually  effaced  the  effects  of  Ball's  Bluff  to 
now  give  place  to  that  equally  disheartening,  and  the  discourage- 
ment was  such  as  to  impress  them  with  the  belief  that  their  lead- 
ers did  not  know  their  own  minds.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  men 
lost  confidence? 

It  was  while  we  were  lying  at  Bolivar  Heights  that  the  order 
of  the  President,  dated  March  8th,  1862,  dividing  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  in  four  corps,  was  carried  into  effect.  The  corps,  de- 
signated the  First,  Second,  Third  and  Fourth,  were  commanded 
respectively  by  Generals  McDowell,  Sumner,  Heintzelman  and 
Keyes,  and  Banks'  command  was  designated  as  the  Fifth  Corps. 


32  THE  OXE  HUXDRED  AXD  SIXTH  REGIMEXT         [1862 

Under  this  new  formation  we  formed  a  part  of  the  Second 
Division,  Second  Army  Corps,  the  corps  commanded  by  Major- 
General  Edwin  \'.  Sumner,  and  our  division  commanded  by 
Brigadier  General  John  Sedg^vick,  both  oflEicers  of  the  regular 
army  and  graduates  of  West  Point ;  the  First  Di\'ision  of  the 
corps,  commanded  by  General  Isaac  B.  Richardson,  the  Third 
Division  by  General  Louis  Blenker,  this  division  was  subsequent- 
ly detached  and  assigned  to  the  Mountain  Department. 


Skrgeant-Major  James  D.  Tyler. 
:.  26,  1861.  Aug.  26,  18 

As  Private,  Company  D. 

moted  to  Sergeant-Major.  March  i,  18 

Mustered  out  Aug.  26,  1864. 


Sergeant-M.\jor  William  H.  Neiler. 

Sept.  2,  i£6i.  Sept.  2,  1864. 

As  Corporal.  Company  C. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant,  Sept.  17,  1862. 

Promoted  to  First  Sergeant,  Jan.  i,  1864. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant-Major.  May  1,  1864. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  186: 

Mustered  out  Sept.  2,  1864. 


NON-COMMISSIONED   STAFF. 


Drum-Ma;cik  Lkwi:^  \\  .  Gkantier. 
Feb.  28,  1862.  Feb.  28.  1865. 

As  Musician,  Company  K. 

Promoted  to  Principal  Musician,  Nov.  i,  1863. 

Mustered  out,  Feb.  28,  1865. 


18621  VORKTOJVN  33 


CHAPTER  VI. 

YORKTOWN, 

WE  remained  in  camp  on  Bolivar  Heights  for  one  week,  and 
on  Sunday,  March  23d,  started  to  join  our  corps  in  its  ad- 
vance on  Richmond,  via  Fort  Monroe  and  Yorktown. 
We  were  then  known  as  the  Second,  or  Philadelphia  Brigade. 
We  broke  camp  about  9  o'clock,  marched  to  Harper's  Ferry  and 
recrossed  the  Potomac  river  on  the  pontoon  bridge  to  Maryland 
and  marched  to  Sandy  Hook ;  here  another  long  wait  occurred 
of  four  hours  before  the  cars  came  which  were  to  take  us  to 
Washington ;  three  hours  more  were  consumed  in  loading  and 
boarding  the  train,  so  that  the  whole  day  had  passed  and  it  was 
6  o'clock  before  we  got  started  and  did  not  arrive  in  Washington 
until  daylight,  the  whole  night  being  consumed  in  running  those 
fifty  miles  ;  packed  in  cattle  cars  with  few  facilities  for  rest  and  so 
crowded  as  to  prevent  even  the  use  of  what  facilities  they  afford- 
ed. We  left  the  cars  soon  after  arrival,  marched  up  on  to 
the  street,  stacked  arms  and  rested ;  hours  passed  away  and  yet 
no  sign  of  anything  to  eat ;  at  10  o'clock  were  ordered  in  line  and 
marched  up  on  Capitol  Hill  and  encamped,  then  taken  by  com- 
panies down  to  the  "Soldier's  Retreat"  for  breakfast,  or  dinner 
it  might  be  called  if  the  time  of  day  were  taken  into  consideration, 
being  about  11  o'clock;  but  being  the  first  that  we  had  that  day, 
so  it  was  our  breakfast ;  the  same  old  salt  tongue,  chunks  of  bread 
and  greasy  coffee  served  up  with  all  the  grease  and  dirt  of  former 
occasions.  During  the  day  we  received  our  own  rations,  and  were 
able  to  serve  them  up  in  a  more  palatable  manner. 

We  remained  in  camp  the  next  two  days  and  were  supplied  with 
all  the  clothing  and  equipments  that  were  needed,  and  many  of  us 
took  advantage  of  the  opportunity  to  see  the  sights  in  and  around 
Washington,  a  limited  number  of  passes  being  furnished. 

On  March  27th,  the  reveille  was  sounded  at  4  o'clock,  and  at  6 
o'clock  we  left  camp,  marching  through  the  streets  of  Washing- 


34  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

ton  to  the  Long  Bridge,  crossed  once  more  into  \  irginia,  took 
the  cars  to  Alexandria  and  camped  for  the  night  just  outside  of 
the  city ;  we  here  gave  up  our  Sibley  tents  and  were  now  to  make 
our  houses  out  of  our  rubber  blankets,  they  being  so  made  that 
they  could  be  fastened  together  and  made  into  a  very  small  "A" 
tent.  At  4  o'clock  the  next  morning  we  were  again  awakened 
and  after  partaking  of  a  hurried  breakfast,  marched  into  the 
city  and  began  embarking  on  transports.  Many  vessels  of  all 
kinds  were  lying  in  front  of  the  city  prepared  to  transport  the  large 
army  that  was  hereafter  to  be  known  as  the  "Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac". Many  had  gone  with  their  cargoes  of  living  freight  and 
returned  for  more,  the  first  having  started  on  March  17th  with 
Heintzelman's  Corps.  Many  were  fast  receiving  theirs  and  others 
ready  to  be  so  loaded.  This  was  one  of  the  greatest  undertak- 
ings of  the  war,  to  transport  that  large  army  of  over  one  hundred 
thousand  men,  fifteen  thousand  horses,  fifty  batteries  of  artillery, 
together  wath  the  large  numbers  of  wagons,  ambulances,  pontoon 
trains  and  the  necessary  ammunition,  provisions  and  stores,  all 
to  be  transported  by  water.  It  fully  demonstrated  the  resources 
of  the  government  and  the  ability  of  its  leaders.  The  official 
report  states  that  there  were  transported  to  Fort  Monroe  121,500 
men,  14,592  animals,  1,150  wagons,  44  batteries,  72  ambulances 
and  other  materials,  all  in  thirty-five  days;  and  that,  with  113 
steamers,  188  schooners  and  88  barges,  at  an  average  expense  of 
$30,157  per  day. 

Our  Regiment  embarked  on  the  steamers  "Naushon"  and  "Long 
Branch",  and  left  Alexandria  at  8  o'clock ;  at  2  o'clock  we  passed 
Fort  Washington  ;  at  dark  ran  in  towards  shore  and  anchored  for 
the  night.  At  daylight  we  started  again ;  about  i  o'clock  it 
commenced  snowing  and  became  so  very  foggy  that  the  captain 
did  not  think  it  safe  to  run,  so  at  2  o'clock  we  ran  in  towards 
the  shore  and  anchored :  some  of  the  men  were  permitted  to  take 
the  small  boats  and  go  ashore  to  cook  the  rations  for  the  men,  as 
the  arrangements  for  cooking  them  on  the  steamer  were  very 
limited  and  inconvenient ;  others  went  after  oysters  and  were 
successful  in  finding  large  quantities  of  them  ;  they  were  soon 
distributed  and  eaten  with  a  relish.  The  next  morning  found  us 
again  on  our  way  and  at  11  o'clock  at  night  we  reached  Fort 


1862]  YORKTOWN  35 

Monroe.  At  daylight  on  the  31st,  we  moved  up  to  the  dock  and 
began  unloading,  and  marched  out  and  encamped  near  Hampton. 

The  large  force  now  concentrating  around  here,  with  their  im- 
mense quantity  of  supplies  of  every  description,  foretold  a  decisive 
campaign.  The  idea  of  a  speedy  termination  of  the  war  that  had 
so  impressed  us  at  the  beginning,  and  that  a  demonstration  on  the 
part  of  the  North  was  all  that  was  needed  to  bring  the  South  to 
terms,  was  fast  disappearing  from  our  minds ;  we  began  to  realize 
that  perhaps  many  hard  contested  battles  would  have  to  be  fought, 
and  that  the  whole  summer  would  be  needed  to  end  the  strife. 
That  those  in  command  fully  realized  what  they  had  to  combat 
was  manifested  in  the  preparation  made  by  them  during  the  long 
winter  months.  Every  preparation  was  made  with  careful  consid- 
eration and  a  determination  to  succeed.  And  that  the  command- 
ing general  expected  to  succeed  is  shown  in  his  subsequent  report, 
in  which  he  says ;  'T  had  hoped  by  rapid  movement  to  drive  before 
me  or  capture  the  enemy  on  the  Peninsula,  open  the  James  river, 
and  push  on  to  Richmond  before  he  should  be  materially  rein- 
forced from  other  portions  of  his  territory".  That  there  might 
be  no  risk  in  having  our  supplies  cut  ofif,  and  to  afiford  an  easy 
means  of  escape  should  it  be  necessary,  "Fort  Monroe"  was  select- 
ed as  the  base  of  operation :  there  could  be  no  interruption  with 
our  source  of  supply ;  it  was  easy  of  access  to  the  large  fleet  of 
vessels  necessary  to  transport  the  immense  quantity  of  stores 
needed  for  so  large  a  force,  and  under  the  protection  of  the  large 
guns  of  the  fort,  both  fleet  and  army  could,  if  it  were  necessary, 
seek  shelter  and  be  protected. 

It  was  while  lying  in  our  winter  quarters  at  Poolesville,  Mary- 
land, that  we  heard  the  good  news  from  here,  of  the  success  of 
Burnside's  expedition  against  Roanoke  Island,  which  he  captured, 
with  three  thousand  prisoners,  a  large  number  of  guns  and  quanti- 
ty of  war  material.  It  was  also  near  here  only  a  few  days  before 
our  arrival,  that  the  rebel  ram  "Merrimac"  had  attacked  and  sunk 
the  "Frigate  Cumberland",  with  the  gallant  Morris  and  his  brave 
men,  their  guns  "booming  defiance  as  the  \vater  (|uenched  their 
flame",  as  she  sank  beneath  the  waves.  The  brave  commander. 
Lieutenant  Morris,  when  asked  if  he  would  strike  his  colors  and 
surrender,  replied  "No!  I  will  sink  with  my  ship  first",  and  he  did, 


36  THE  OXE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

with  his  colors  flying  at  the  masthead.  The  ^Nlerrimac  then  turned 
her  attention  to  the  "Congress",  drove  her  aground,  set  her  on  fire 
and  killed  her  commander.  Lieutenant  Joseph  Smith.  She  soon 
after  exploded,  from  the  hot  shot  poured  into  her,  sending  the  rest 
of  her  crew  into  the  water,  nearly  all  of  whom  were  saved.  The 
next  morning  the  little  Monitor,  that  arrived  during  the  night,  put 
a  stop  to  the  Merrimac's  further  devastation,  silenced  her  guns  for-- 
ever,  and  drove  her  back  to  her  shores.  The  victory  of  that  little 
vessel  "revolutionized  naval  architecture,  saved  a  fleet,  and  per- 
chance changed  the  issues  of  the  war" ;  and  thrilled  the  hearts  of 
our  people  then  saddened  by  the  fate  of  brave  Lieutenant  Smith  and 
the  brave  men  behind  the  guns — Lieutenant  Morris  being  rescued 
from  a  watery  grave.  It  was  the  desire  of  our  hearts  to  avenge 
the  one,  and  follow  up  the  victory  of  the  other,  that  now  so  filled 
us  with  enthusiasm  and  made  us  long  for  the  advance  that  would 
afford  us  an  opportunity  to  contribute  our  part  of  success.  We 
really  felt  now  that  we  were  to  do  something,  and  those  leading 
and  planning  for  us  were  worthy  of  our  confidence. 

On  April  the  4th,  our  advance  towards  Yorktown  commenced ; 
reveille  was  sounded  at  daylight,  and  at  6  o'clock  we  left  camp. 
After  a  march  of  six  miles,  made  a  long  halt,  during  which  time 
General  McClellan  and  staff"  came  along ;  instantly  every  man 
was  on  his  feet,  and  cheer  after  cheer  greeted  him  as  he  passed 
along  the  whole  line,  many  of  the  men  seeing  him  for  the  first 
time.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  demonstrations  that  almost 
universally  greeted  him  whenever  he  passed,  and  was  continued 
throughout  the  whole  time  he  was  in  command  ;  if  on  the  march, 
no  matter  how  tired,  or  with  what  effort  they  were  dragging  them- 
selves along,  covered  with  dust  or  tramping  through  mud.  the  in- 
stant it  was  known  that  "Little  Mac"  was  coming,  every  man 
would  straighten  up,  take  his  position  in  line  and  cheer  him  as 
he  passed.  The  enthusiasm  thus  awakened  in  the  hearts  of  the 
men  but  deepened  their  affection  for  their  leader,  and  assisted 
them  to  forget  the  fatigue  of  the  march  and  would  give  them  a 
fresh  start. 

After  a  long  rest  we  moved  on  and  went  into  camp  about  6 
o'clock  near  Cockletown.  Next  morning  started  again  about  5 
o'clock,  and  after  marching  for  four  hours,  making  only  about 


1862]  YORKTOWN  37 

five  miles,  we  rested  until  2  o'clock  and  then  advanced  to  within 
four  miles  of  Yorktown,  and  struck  the  enemy's  lines  and  began 
the  siege  of  Yorktown.     Raining  nearly  all  the  time ;   cannon- 
ading was  heard  at  intervals  during  the  day. 
Colonel  Banes  writes  as  follows : 

The  section  of  country  known  as  the  Peninsula  is  an  isthmus 
formed  by  the  York  and  James  rivers,  varying  in  width  from  seven 
to  fifteen  miles,  and  about-  fifty  miles  in  length.  It  is  low  and 
flat ;  in  most  places  water  can  be  obtained  by  digging  three  or  four 
feet.  It  has  an  abundance  of  marshes  and  streams,  and  is  heavily 
timbered  with  pines ;  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances  it 
would  not  appear  in  itself  a  land  worth  fighting  for,  and  this  im- 
pression was  made  more  prominent  as  the  column  advanced. 

Everywhere  on  the  route  were  to  be  seen  indications  of  the 
waste  of  war.  The  little  village  of  Hampton,  a  short  distance  from 
the  fort,  which  had  the  appearance  of  having  once  been  a  place 
of  delightful  resort,  and  around  which  clustered  many  historical 
reminiscences  of  great  interest,  was  a  scene  of  ruin  and  desolation. 
Its  public  buildings  and  hotel  were  destroyed,  and  in  place  of  its 
homes  were  blackened  walls  and  heaps  of  cinders.  The  venerable 
'church,  built  in  colonial  times  and  standing  out  of  danger  from  the 
conflagration  of  the  village,  was  not  spared,  and  even  the  grave- 
yard, with  its  overturned  monuments  and  broken  tablets,  gave 
evidence  of  the  marked  determination  of  the  enemy  to  make  the 
land  a  barren  waste  for  the  invaders.  Similar  sights  were  pre- 
sented along  the  entire  march  to  Big  Bethel.  Houses,  barns,  and 
bridges  were  all  gone,  and  fences  had  been  torn  away  to  be  placed 
in  piles  and  burned  to  ashes.  Passing  scenes  like  these  one  could 
well  interpret  the  line  of  the  poet,  "Cry  havoc !  and  let  slip  the  dogs 
of  war". 

At  the  time  of  the  advance  on  the  Peninsula  by  the  vanguard 
of  McClellan.  the  force  of  the  enemy  directly  opposed  was  esti- 
mated to  number  about  eleven  thousand  men,  and  was  under  the 
command  of  General  J.  B.  Magruder,  who  had  defeated  a  Union 
force  ten  months  before  this  at  Big  Bethel,  and  who  was  the  re- 
puted author  of  the  desolation  of  Hampton  and  its  vicinity. 
Against  this  force  General  McClellan  was  advancing  in  two  col- 
umns— one  along  the  Yorktown  road,  and  the  other  by  way  of 
Warwick.  These  were  commanded  respectively  by  Generals 
Heintzelman  and  Keyes.  In  the  right  column  were  the  divisions  of 
Fitz  John  Porter  and  Hamilton,  of  the  Third  Corps,  and  of  Sedg- 
wick of  the  Second  Corps.  The  latter  was  the  only  division  of  its 
corps  that  had  yet  landed.     Richardson's  Division  joined  us  shortly 


38  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

after;  but  the  division  of  Blenker  had  been  permanently  detached 
and  ordered  to  General  Fremont  by  President  Lincoln. 

The  Second,  under  Sedgwick,  destined  to  earn  during  its  con- 
nection with  the  army  an  enviable  reputation  for  its  gallantry  in 
action,  was  composed  of  some  of  the  best  of  the  three  years'  regi- 
ments. The  First  Minnesota,  Seventh  Michigan,  Forty-Second 
(Tammany)  and  Eighty-Second  New  York,  Fifteenth,  Nineteenth 
and  Twentieth  Massachusetts,  and  other  regiments  of  like  character 
made  for  themselves  and  the  command  a  national  reputation. 
Between  these  regiments  and  the  Philadelphians  there  soon  sprang 
up  an  intimacy  and  a  generous  spirit  of  emulation.  In  all  their 
struggles  with  the  foe  they  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder.  By  the 
necessities  of  war  and  the  loss  of  officers,  each  of  the  brigades  was 
in  turn  commanded  by  regimental  officers  from  the  others,  Col- 
onels Baxter,  Morehead  and  Owen  frequently  commanding  the 
First  and  Third  Brigades,  while  the  Second,  in  the  absence  of 
senior  officers  of  regiments,  was  occasionally  led  by  a  colonel  from 
New  York  or  Massachusetts. 

On  April  6th,  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth,  in  connection  with 
the  Seventy-Second,  made  a  reconnoissance  of  the  enemy's  works 
from  Yorktown  to  Lee's  Mills,  under  the  personal  command  of 
General  Burns.  This  was  the  first  reconnoissance  made  by  that 
army,  and  our  brigade  was  especially  selected  by  General  Mc- 
Clellan  for  that  duty,  but  General  Burns  took  only  two  regiments, 
the  Seventy-Second  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixth,  and  they  per- 
formed that  duty  with  success,  and  it  proved  of  vital  importance. 
Advancing  from  the  right,  they  explored  the  whole  of  Heintzel- 
man's  front,  throwing  out  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers,  driving 
in  the  enemy's  pickets  wherever  met,  pushed  forward  until  their 
main  line  and  fortifications  were  reached,  unmasking  their  mask- 
ed batteries,  drawing  their  fire.  At  one  point  we  received  a  volley 
from  their  infantry,  to  which  we  replied  with  two  volleys — for- 
tunately no  one  was  injured,  except  one  tnan  killed  by  a  shell. 
General  Burns  fully  understood  his  duty,  and  the  regiments  ably 
assisted  him ;  much  valuable  information  was  gained  as  to  the 
position  and  force  of  the  enemy.  We  had  advanced  on  Yorktown 
and  taken  the  Warwick  road  from  the  front  gate,  and  continued 
until  meeting  General  Hancock's  command  from  Warwick  Court- 
house, a  co-operating  reconnoissance,  then  returned  to  our  camp 
about  dark,  and  found  a  hot  supper  awaiting  us,  which  was  very 


1862]  YORKTOWN  39 

acceptable  after  our  long  day's  fast,  having  started  about  6  o'clock 
in  the  morning.  We  had  marched  altogether  about  sixteen  miles, 
and  the  duty  was  rendered  more  arduous  by  the  men  being  en- 
cumbered with  their  knapsacks,  etc.  Were,  in  fact,  in  heavy 
marching  order,  a  mistake  that  experience  afterwards  prevented. 

It  now  became  evident  that  no  attempt  would  be  made  to  force 
the  enemy's  works  by  assault,  but  that  they  would  have  to  be  taken 
by  the  slow  process  of  a  siege,  and  every  preparation  was  made 
in  that  direction ;  large  siege  guns,  one  hundred,  and  even  two- 
hundred-pounders,  with  heavy  mortars,  were  brought  up  and  put 
into  position.  To  get  these  guns  to  the  places  designed  required 
the  construction  of  roads  through  woods  and  over  swamps ;  the 
former  was  not  hard  to  accomplish,  but  the  latter  compelled  the 
men  to  work  in  mud  and  water,  sometimes  almost  knee  deep, 
constructing  the  corduroy  roads,  as  they  were  called.  Small  trees 
would  be  cut  down,  laid  side  by  side,  held  in  position  by  stakes, 
covered  with  loose  dirt,  and  would  form  a  road  that  would  enable 
the  engineers  to  transport  these  heavy  guns  to  the  number  of 
redoubts  and  batteries  they  were  constructing  for  them.  These 
were  all  connected  by  lines  of  rifle  pits  or  earthworks  for  the  in- 
fantry. Our  division  was  assigned  to  "Battery  Xumber  Eight". 
These  preparations  were  not  permitted  to  go  on  without  inter- 
ference from  the  enemy ;  they  would  make  frequent  attacks,  day 
and  night,  and  use  their  artillery  to  draw  out  our  fire,  and  nearly 
every  day  artillery  duels  were  fought.  To  retard  their  artillery 
fire,  men  were  detailed  as  sharpshooters,  and,  digging  little  rifle 
pits  during  the  night,  sheltered  themselves  during  the  day,  and  by, 
their  well-directed  fire,  which  improved  each  day,  completely 
controlled  some  of  their  guns,  allowing  no  one  to  approach  them 
for  the  purpose  of  loading  and  firing.  The  enemy  also  acquired 
the  same  proficiency,  and  many  men  on  both  sides  were  either 
killed  or  wounded  without  hardly  knowing  where  the  shot  came 
from.  Nearly  every  evening,  however,  they  used  their  guns  with 
efl^ect,  and  with  their  infantry  attacked  the  pickets,  calling  our 
men  into  line,  and  sometimes  two  and  even  three  times  during 
the  night  would  we  be  awakened  by  the  heavy  firing  from  the 
pickets  in  our  immediate  front,  losing  hours  of  sleep  and  rest. 

In  all  these  preparations  our  regiment  had  its  part  to  perform. 


40  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

On  April  9th,  we  were  detailed  to  build  roads ;  starting  about 
noon,  tramped  through  wood,  mud  and  underbrush  in  a  heavy 
rainstorm  until  near  dark,  and  returned  to  camp  without  doing 
any  work  except  the  marching,  the  Seventy-First  Pennsylvania 
and  Fifteenth  Massachusetts  Regiments  accompanyingus as  guard 
and  support.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  loth,  we  began  work 
near  the  camp  and  worked  steadily  all  day,  constructing  a  cordu- 
roy road  and  building  small  bridges  over  little  runs  and  swampy 
holes,  increased  in  number  and  size  by  the  steady  rain  of  the  last 
four  days. 

On  the  1 6th,  moved  up  and  took  our  position  in  the  front  line, 
extending  from  Shipping  Point  to  a  place  called  Winn's  Mills, 
and  named  our  camp  "Winfield  Scott". 

On  the  17th,  the  whole  Regiment  went  out  on  picket,  relieving 
the  Thirty-Fourth  New  York,  and  were  in  turn  relieved  by  the 
Seventh  Michigan  and  the  Twentieth  Massachusetts  on  the  i8th; 
every  third  day  during  the  siege  the  regiment  was  out  on  out- 
post duty. 

It  having  been  demonstrated  that  the  rubber  blankets  would  not 
answer  for  tents,  we  had  issued  to  us  on  the  i8th  what  were  called 
"shelter  tents" ;  some  made  of  linen  and  some  of  cotton  cloth, 
about  six  feet  square,  arranged  with  buttons  and  button-holes,  so 
that  by  putting  two  together  and  stretching  over  a  pole  supported 
by  two  forked  sticks  stuck  in  the  ground,  a  very  comfortable  little 
tent  could  be  made,  a  third  buttoned  on  one  end  would  close  it  up, 
thus  three  men  clubbing  together  could  make  one  tent.  Each  man 
only  received  one  part,  or  one  tent  as  it  was  called,  yet  it  took 
three  to  make  a  complete  tent ;  these  were  a  decided  improvement 
over  the  rubber  blankets  for  that  purpose. 

On  April  25th,  the  whole  Regiment  worked  the  entire  night 
throwing  up  earthworks ;  and  again  on  the  28th  ;  and  on  the  30th 
received  an  angel's  visit  in  the  shape  of  the  paymaster,  who  paid 
off  the  Regiment ;  and  so  the  life  ran  with  such  changes  as  each 
day  brought  forth,  until  ]\Iay  4th,  when  it  was  found  that  the 
enemy  had  evacuated. 

While  lying  here,  many  incidents  occurred  that  were  amusing, 
as  well  as  those  that  were  dangerous.  Whiskey  became  very 
scarce,  and  only  those  that  wore  the  shoulder  straps  were  enabled 


1862]  YORKTOWN  41 

to  obtain  it.  Now  there  were  men  in  the  ranks  that  needed  it  as 
bad  as  the  officers,  and  many  were  the  devices  used  to  get  it. 
Officers'  servants  were  bribed,  sickness  feigned  to  get  it  from  the 
surgeons,  and  stolen  when  it  could  be  got  no  other  way.  One  in- 
cident illustrates  how  much  men  will  dare  to  get  their  whiskey. 
The  Captain  of  Company  C  was  standing  by  a  large  fire,  dry- 
ing himself  from  one  of  the  rainstorms  that  were  numerous  dur- 
ing our  stay  there,  when  Sergeant  Barnes,  of  his  company,  feeling 
very  much  in  need  of  a  "drop  of  the  cratur".  and  knowing  that 
his  captain  was  supplied,  but  as  he  had  appealed  to  him  so  often 
with  all  manner  of  excuses,  he  feared  to  try  it  again,  so  he  thought 
this  time  he  would  help  himself.  He  quietly  stole  up  behind  the 
captain  w4io  was  facing  the  fire,  stooped  down  and  gently  lifted 
the  canteen,  uncorked  it,  took  a  good  drink,  recorked,  gently 
replaced  it,  and  as  quietly  slipped  away.  Meeting  another  ser- 
geant of  the  company  by  the  name  of  Lockerman,  he  said  "Smell 
my  breath".  "Good  gracious,  where  did  you  get  it?"  said  Locker- 
man. "From  the  captain",  said  Barnes.  "Did  you  ask  him  for 
it?"  "No!  I  stole  it."  "How?"  Barnes  then  related  how  he 
got  it.  "By  George,  I'll  try  it  too",  said  Lockerman.  So  he 
quietly  stole  up  behind  the  captain,  stooped  down,  tilted  the  can- 
teen and  just  got  it  to  his  mouth  when  an  uncertain  movement 
warned  the  captain,  who  turned  and  caught  Lockerman  in  the 
act.  The  scene  that  followed  may  be  better  imagined  than  de- 
scribed. Sufficient  to  say  Lockerman  did  not  get  his  drink,  nor 
was  he  "reduced  to  the  ranks". 

During  the  siege  of  Yorktown  the  first  use  of  the  balloon  for 
reconnoissance  was  made,  and  proved  of  great  value,  although  it 
was  not  until  the  Franco-German  war  that  it  was  fully  utilized. 
Here  a  balloon,  with  stout  rope  attached,  was  sent  up  to  such  a 
height  as  to  be  beyond  the  range  of  rifle  shot,  and  such  observa- 
tions made  as  were  needed  and  then  brought  down.  It  was  while 
making  one  of  these  ascensions,  early  on  the  morning  of  April 
nth,  that  the  balloon  broke  loose  and  shot  up  in  the  air,  its  only 
occupant  being  General  Fitz  John  Porter.  He  had  ascended  a 
number  of  times  alone,  and  this  morning,  with  field-glass  in  hand, 
he  sprang  into  the  car  and  commanded  the  men  to  let  go  the 
cables.     The  balloon  was  only  partially  inflated,  yet  noiselessly 


42  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

it  rose  into  the  sky,  when  suddenly  a  report,  like  an  explosion,  was 
heard,  and  it  was  found  that  the  only  cable  that  held  the  balloon 
had  parted  and  the  balloon  was  adrift.  The  whole  army  seemed 
to  realize  at  once  what  had  happened,  and  all  eyes  were  turned  up- 
wards. The  General  appeared  on  the  edge  of  the  car  and  shouted 
something  that  could  not  be  heard  below,  but  Professor  Lowe, 
knowing  that  sound  would  ascend  better,  shouted,  "Climb-to-the- 
netting-and-reach-the-valve-rope ;"  but  the  balloon  kept  on  its  up- 
ward flight.  Presently  the  General  was  seen  climbing  up  the 
netting  and  making  frantic  eft'orts  to  secure  the  rope  ;  but  he  de- 
scended and  motioned  over  the  side  of  the  basket,  as  though  telling 
us  of  his  failure ;  directly  he  was  seen  making  use  of  his  glass,  re- 
connoitring the  enemy's  works.  The  wind  could  not  be  controll- 
ed ;  it  carried  him  first  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  towards  Fort 
Monroe,  and  all  felt  relieved  ;  but  presently  the  course  changed, 
and  back  it  came  over  our  heads  and  into  the  Confederate  lines, 
yet,  notwithstanding  his  perilous  position,  he  could  be  seen  using 
his  glass  and  gaining  all  the  information  he  could,  far  above  the 
range  of  their  sharpshooters  and  cannon  ;  but  where  would  he  land? 
Again  he  was  seen  climbing  up  the  netting,  and  this  time  he  got 
the  rope,  opened  the  valve,  and  the  balloon  began  to  descend. 
His  staff  and  orderlies  galloped  in  the  direction  the  balloon  had 
taken,  so  as  to  be  ready  to  render  what  assistance  should  be  neces- 
sary if  he  should  land  where  they  could  reach  him.  As  it  neared 
the  ground,  back  it  came  within  our  lines  and  landed  in  the  road 
by  the  camp  of  the  Seventy-Second  Pennsylvania,  striking  one 
of  their  siuall  tents  and  the  ground  with  such  force  as  to  hurl 
the  General  to  the  ground.  Hastily  arising  unhurt,  he  was  gladly 
welcomed  by  his  officers  and  the  cheers  of  the  men.  The  writer, 
with  others,  assisted  in  discharging  the  gas  from  the  balloon, 
which  was  taken  charge  of  by  Professor  Lowe,  who  soon  arrived 
on  horseback. 

Early  in  May  everything  seemed  ready  for  the  assault  on  the 
enemy's  lines ;  our  fortifications  were  all  completed,  the  large 
guns  all  in  position  and  plentifully  supplied  with  ammunition,  the 
works  for  the  infantry  ready  for  occupancy  and  occupied,  when, 
just  as  we  were  about  to  open  on  the  enemy,  we  found  they  had 
evacuated  and  given  us  the  slip.     Yorktown  was  ours  without  a 


1862]  VORKTOJVN  43 

fight.  During  the  night  of  the  3d  of  May,  they  had  withdrawn 
their  entire  force,  not  even  a  picket  was  left,  and  our  skirmishers 
occupied  the  land  without  firing  a  shot,  on  May  4th.  The  rebel 
commander.  General  Johnston,  had  accomplished  his  object — 
"to  gain  time" — and  then  left.  The  news  soon  spread  from  camp 
to  camp,  and  cheer  after  cheer  was  sent  up.  The  bands,  that 
had  been  silent  since  the  14th  of  April,  when  an  order  was 
issued  stopping  all  bands,  drums  and  bugles  from  playing,  were 
now  brought  out  and  played  their  best  tunes ;  men  soon  filled 
the  works  to  see  what  they  could  see,  and  what  they  could  find. 
Many  tents  were  left  standing,  heavy  guns  and  ammunition  left 
behind,  a  few  stragglers  and  deserters,  and  several  contrabands 
were  captured.  Letters,  newspapers  and  reports  were  found ; 
also  many  other  trifling  things  that  were  eagerly  sought  for  as 
relics.  Quantities  of  provisions,  principally  flour,  were  also 
found.  In  several  places  dummy  guns,  made  from  huge  logs,  to 
represent  cannon,  were  mounted  on  the  works,  in  order  to  deceive 
us,  while  the  genuine  guns  were  quietly  removed  at  night.  In 
one  place  stuffed  men  w-ere  standing  guard  over  one.  But.  sad 
to  relate,  they  had  availed  themselves  of  the  fiendish  opportunity 
of  destroying  some  of  our  men.  by  planting,  near  objects  of  in- 
terest that  would  be  likely  to  attract  a  crowd,  torpedoes  and  per- 
cussion shells,  which  exploded  upon  treading  on  the  ground  over 
them.  Several  men  w'ere  killed  and  wounded,  fortunately  none 
in  our  regiment ;  but  in  the  Sixty-Ninth  Pennsylvania,  a  man  by 
the  name  of  John  Greene,  of  Company  D,  lost  one  of  his  legs,  and 
subsequently  died  while  it  was  being  amputated.  His  foot  was 
blown  clean  off  and  over  the  works.  It  then  began  to  be  feared 
that  they  had  carried  their  devilishness  still  further  by  poisoning 
the  water  and  the  provisions  left  behind ;  but  that  report  did  not 
gain  much  headway,  although  it  nearly  made  our  mess  throw 
aw-ay  a  good  supper.  We  had  secured  some  of  the  flour  as  a 
great  luxury,  had  made  a  batter  and  baked  ourselves  a  large  pile 
of  cakes  or  "slap-jacks",  as  we  called  them,  and  when  all  was  ready 
sat  down  to  enjoy  our  treat,  when  some  one  remarked,  "suppose 
the  flour  was  poisoned !"  We  all  hesitated,  looked  at  each  other, 
and  then  at  the  pile  of  cakes ;  we  were  very  hungry,  the  cakes 
looked  so  good,  vet  all  were  afraid  to  eat  them.     Finally  one  of 


44  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

the  mess  said,  "I  tell  yon  what  I  will  do:  I  will  eat  one  and  if  it 
affects  me  don't  you  eat  any",  so  he  helped  himself  to  one  of  the 
large  cakes  and  began  eating  it,  and  there  we  sat,  knife  and  fork 
in  hand,  watching  him  intently,  waiting  for  developments.  The 
cake  disappeared,  another  was  taken  and  put  away,  and  he  reach- 
ed for  a  third.  We  then  saw  that  if  we  wanted  any  of  those  cakes 
we  w^ould  have  to  pitch  in,  which  we  did,  thinking  no  more  of 
poison  and  seeing  who  could  eat  the  fastest,  and  catch  up  with 
him.     I  am  happy  to  state  none  of  us  were  in  any  way  affected. 

As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  the  enemy  had  evacuated,  efforts 
were  made  to  overtake  him.  Cavalry  and  light  artillery  were 
hurried  forward  under  General  Stoneman,  and  three  divisions  of 
infantry,  under  Generals  Hooker,  Smith  and  Kearney,  all  under 
command  of  General  Sumner,  followed  the  cavalry  and  Frank- 
lin's division  was  sent  by  transports  to  West  Point,  and  Richard- 
son and  Sedgwick's  were  held  in  readiness  to  advance  to  the  as- 
sistance of  either  party. 

The  enemy  was  overtaken  by  our  cavalry  coming  upon  his 
cavalry  under  Stuart,  near  the  City  of  Williamsburg,  about  six 
miles  north  of  Yorktown ;  they  gradually  fell  back  to  a  line  of 
works  which  Magruder  had  previously  constructed,  which  they 
held  until  reinforced  by  Longstreet's  Division,  which  had  been 
turned  back  to  keep  us  in  check  until  their  whole  army  and  their 
supply  trains  could  cross  the  Chickahominy.  Smith  first  came  up 
with  the  cavalry  about  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  prepared 
to  assault  the  works  at  once,  but  the  woods  through  which  they 
were  to  charge  were  found  to  be  "utterly  impracticable"  for  an 
infantry  advance,  and,  darkness  coming  on,  he  determined  to 
wait  until  morning.  Hooker,  after  laboring  through  the  muddy 
roads,  struck  the  enemy's  line  in  his  front  about  11  o'clock  at 
night,  and  at  7  o'clock  the  next  morning,  May  5th,  he  opened  the 
battle  of  Williamsburg,  and,  unaided,  fought  hard  and  well  until 
noon,  and  reported  to  Heintzelman,  "I  have  had  a  hard  contest  all 
morning,  but  do  not  despair  of  success.  My  men  are  hard  at 
work,  but  a  good  deal  exhausted".  At  12  o'clock  Smith,  who  had 
delayed  his  advance  until  then,  began  his  attack  with  Hancock's 
brigade,  who  succeeded  in  capturing  the  works  of  the  enemy's 
right,  which  he  held  for  some  time,  and  then  fell  back,  when  he 


1862]  YORKTOWN  45 

was  immediatel}'  assaulted  by  the  reinforced  enemy,  but,  turning, 
he  poured  several  well-directed  volleys  into  their  advancing  lines, 
and  then  charged  and  drove  them  back  with  a  loss  of  nearly  400 
men.  In  the  afternoon  Hooker  was  reinforced  by  Kearney,  and 
subsequently  by  Couch.  Kearney,  relieving  Hooker's  diminished 
and  exhausted  men,  immediately  renewed  the  fight  and,  by  suc- 
cessive charges,  recovered  the  lost  ground,  and  night  closed  the 
battle  unsatisfactory  to  both  armies.     Webb  says: 

The  battle  was  fought  hj-  piecemeal  and  ended  in  disappoint- 
ment; we  lost  that  day  2.228  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  and  five 
guns.     Longstreet  reports  the  total  rebel  loss  at  1,560. 

At  8  o'clock  our  division  was  under  arms,  and  soon  started, 
taking  nearly  four  hours  to  march  about  seven  miles  over  those 
terrible  muddy  roads  and  through  swampy  grounds,  some  places 
nearly  knee-deep  in  mud  and  water,  halting  from  about  noon 
until  near  dark,  when  we  again  took  our  position  in  the  road, 
but  could  not  move  forward  ;  and  all  that  night  we  stood  in  that 
mud  and  water,  raining  hard  all  the  time,  unable  to  get  forward, 
and  they  would  not  take  us  back,  and  there  we  stood :  wet  through 
to  the  skin,  cold,  sleepy  and  w'orn-out,  no  place  to  lie  or  even  sit 
down,  nothing  to  lean  against  for  support.  We  had  heard  dis- 
tincth'  the  cannonading  all  day  long,  but  were  not  taken  forward 
to  take  part  in  the  fight.  Some  time  after  midnight  we  were 
ordered  back  to  camp,  after  standing  for  ten  hours  in  line  in  a 
flrenching  rainstorm,  wet  through,  mud  over  ankle  deep,  with 
the  sound  of  battle  plainly  heard,  and  instead  of  being  pushed 
forward  to  do  our  part,  were  kept  standing  there  inactive,  certain- 
ly much  more  trying  on  young  soldiers  than  resisting  the  assaults 
of  the  enemy  or  charging  their  line,  because  it  lacks  the  excitement 
and  glory,  which  is  greater  than  the  risk.  That  day  and  night's 
experience  will  not  be  forgotten  by  any  of  those  who  endured  it. 
any  sooner  than  that  same  day's  experience  of  Hooker's  or  Han- 
cock's men  that  fought  so  well  and  suffered  such  heavy  loss. 

We  remained  in  camp  on  the  6th,  and  fortunately  the  sun  came 
out  a  welcome  visitor,  and  we  were  able  to  dry  ourselves,  our 
clothes,  and  clean  from  them  the  mud  that  covered  them.  Our 
brigade,  during  its  stay  at  Yorktown,  suffered  very  little  in  killed 


46  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

and  wounded  at  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  but  by  those  still  more 
powerful  enemies,  sickness  and  death,  our  loss  was  very  heavy. 
Many  were  rendered  unfit  for  further  service  by  disease  and  the 
hardships  and  exposures  they  were  compelled  to  vmdergo,  and 
many  were  sent  to  the  hospitals  North,  and  others  left  there  and 
died.  Among  those  whose  aspirations  were  suddenly  terminated, 
was  Lieutenant  Eugene  Foliet,  of  Company  I,  who  died  of  brain 
fever.  He  was  a  promising  young  French  officer,  expert  with 
the  sword,  well  up  in  the  tactics,  and  unknown  to  fear,  possessing 
all  the  qualifications  necessary  to  make  a  good  officer.  The  com- 
pany felt  they  had  met  with  a  severe  loss.  All  were  glad  when 
we  left  that  place  for  good. 


1862]  FAIR  OAKS  47 


CHAPTER    VII. 

FAIR    OAKS. 

STEPS  were  now  taken  to  follow  up  the  retreating  enemy,  and 
to  force  him  back  when  met.     Forces  were  hurried  forward 
as  fast  as  practicable,  to  push  on  towards  Richmond  and 
occupy  the  ground  as  soon  as  vacated. 

On  May  7th,  at  6  o'clock,  we  were  on  the  march,  passed  through 
Yorktown  to  Brick  House  Landing,  and  took  transports  to  West 
Point,  situated  on  the  peninsula  formed  by  the  Mattapony  and  Pa- 
munkey  Rivers,  about  twenty-five  miles  above  Yorktown.  The 
One  Hundred  and  Sixth  and  Seventy-First  Regiments,  embark- 
ing on  the  steamer  "State  of  Maine",  having  in  tow  the  large 
schooner  "Smithsonian",  and  propeller  "Salvador",  both  loaded 
with  troops,  arrived  at  West  Point  at  4  o'clock,  landed,  and 
camped  on  the  banks  of  the  river.  Here  on  that  day,  Franklin's 
Division  and  Dana's  Brigade  of  our  division  had  a  pretty  hard 
fight  with  the  enemy's  rear  guard,  lasting  nearly  all  day,  and 
finally  succeeded  in  driving  them  back  and  capturing  six  pieces 
of  artillery ;  the  next  morning  prepared  to  continue  the  fight, 
and  our  brigade  ordered  under  arms,  when  it  was  found  that  the 
enemy  had  retreated  during  the  night.  Our  camp  was  changed 
on  the  8th,  and  again  on  the  9th,  moving  about  three  miles  in- 
land to  Eltham,  on  the  Pamunkey  River,  where  we  remained 
several  days.  On  the  15th  again  took  up  the  line  of  march,  and 
marched  about  twelve  miles,  near  to  New  Kent  Court-House,  in 
a  heav}'  rainstorm  which  lasted  the  entire  day,  making  the  roads 
very  muddy,  and  although  we  had  made  but  twelve  miles,  it  was 
the  hardest  day's  march  we  had  had  up  to  that  time.  The  soil  was 
principally  clay  and  became  very  sticky  and  slippery,  so  that  we 
would  slide  back  part  of  the  way  at  each  step  taken  forward.  The 
roads  were  terribly  cut  up  by  the  artillery  and  wagons,  making 
the  mud  in  some  places  over  shoe-top,  and  would  stick  so  fast 
as,  at  times,  tQ  pull  the  shoes  off  the  feet,  so  that  some  of  the  men, 


48  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT        [1S62 

on  taking  a  step  forward,  would  find  the}'  had  left  their  shoe 
behind  and  would  have  to  go  back  and  dig  it  out  or  go  on  and 
leave  it,  which  some  of  them  did ;  then  the  mud  adhering  to  the 
pants  far  above  the  knees,  and  the  rest  of  the  uniform  completely 
saturated  with  the  rain,  made  them  very  heavy,  so  that  many  of 
the  men  were  unable  to  keep  up  under  this  additional  heavy  load 
of  mud  and  water  over  those  bad  roads. 

After  three  days'  rest  started  again  on  the  i8th,  passing  through 
New  Kent  Court-House  and  about  four  miles  beyond,  and  en- 
camped. While  encamped  here  I  wandered  into  the  old  church- 
yard and  became  deeply  interested  in  the  many  old  tombstones ; 
among  them  found  one  with  the  following  cut  upon  it.  It  was 
a  large  marble  slab,  now  grey  with  age.  Its  peculiar  style  induced 
me  to  copy  it,  and  I  give  it  just  as  I  found  it : 

Here  Lyes  Intered  ye  Body  of  ye  Hon-ble 

Will""  Bassett  of  ye  County  of  New  Kent. 

Esq.  Son  of  Will'"  Bassett  Esq  and 

Bridget  His  Wife  of  ye  County  of 

Southampton  ye  Kingdom  of  England 

He  Married  to  Joanna  Eldest 

Daughter 

of  Lewis  Burwell  Esq,  with  whom 

He  Happily  Lived  29  years  & 

10  months 
And  was  Blessed  with  5  son  & 

7  daughters 

He  departed  this  Life  ye  llth 

of  Octbr 

1723  in  ye  53rd  year  of  his  age 

He  was  a  good  Christian 

Affectionate 

Obliging  Husband  A 

Kind  Indulgent 

father,  a  good  Master  His 

Loss  was 

greatly  Lamented  by  his  Country 

County  &  family  &  unexpectedly  to 

Mournful  Disconsolate  Widow 

Who  also  Departed  this  life 

this  ye  7th  day 

of  October  1727  in  the 

53rd  yeare  of  her  age 


Captain  Charles  S.  Schwartz 

Aug.  8,  1861.  May  12,  1864. 

As  First  Sergeant. 

Promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  Nov.  i,  186: 

Promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  March  1,1863 

Promoted  to  Captain,  April  5.  1864. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2    i86^ 
Killed  at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va",  May  12    ig 


COMPANY  A. 


Sergeant  E.  Sherwood  Walton. 

Aug.  12,  1861.  Sept.  10,  186 

As  Corporal. 

P''omoted  to  Sergeant.  March  i,  1863. 

Mustered  out  with  Company,  Sept    10.  li 


Corporal  David  G.  Walton. 
Aug.  8,  1861.  July  2,  1863. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal,  March  i,  1863. 

Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  1862. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13.  1862. 

Killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  1863. 


1862]  FAIR  OAKS  49 

On  the  2 1st  made  a  march  of  about  fifteen  miles,  passing  St. 
Philip's  Church,  in  which  we  were  told,  General  Washington 
was  married.  This,  perhaps,  is  an  error,  as  Irving,  in  his  "Life 
of  Washington",  says  that  he  was  married  on  the  "6th  day  of 
January,  1759,  at  the  White  House,  the  residence  of  the  bride, 
in  the  good  old  hospitable  style  of  Virginia".  Yet  they  might 
have  been  married  at  church  and  entertained  afterwards  at  the 
White  House,  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Custis  in  New  Kent  County, 
a  short  distance  from  Williamsburg. 

We  camped  that  night  on  the  plantation  of  ex-President  Tyler. 
We  moved  on  the  23d  and  again  on  the  28th,  when  we  held  the 
center  position  of  the  army  with  Keyes  on  our  left,  with  his  left 
near  Bottom  Bridge,  and  Franklin  on  our  right,  with  Porter  on 
the  right  and  Heintzelman  on  the  left  as  supports,  all  along  the 
banks  of  the  Chickahominy.  We  remained  there  until  moved 
forward  to  Fair  Oaks. 

Colonel  Morehead  was  now  called  upon  for  a  detachment  of 
the  Regiment  for  special  service,  and  Companies  A  and  B  were 
selected,  and  under  the  command  of  Major  Stover,  were  sent  to 
White  House  Landing,  where,  much  to  the  disgust  of  the  men, 
the  "special  service"  was  found  to  be  guarding  the  hospital  stores 
of  the  army. 

The  movement  up  the  Peninsula  towards  Richmond  may  now 
be  said  to  be  well  under  way.  "On  to  Richmond !"  was  the  cry. 
The  weather  was  unusually  warm,  and  much  difficulty  was  ex- 
perienced in  obtaining  suitable  water  for  drinking  purposes.  At 
almost  any  point  water  could  be  obtained  by  digging  from  three 
to  five  feet ;  but  this  was  only  surface  water,  and  its  evil  effects 
were  soon  apparent — fevers  prevailed,  nearly  every  one  sufifered 
from  diarrhoea,  and  the  sick  list  throughout  the  Army  became 
very  large,  it  was  almost  the  Army.  Our  Regiment  sufifered 
severely  from  this  cause ;  however,  the  eft'ect  of  this  bad  water 
was  counteracted  by  the  issue  of  whiskey.  ( or  commissary,  as  we 
called  it)  to  the  men,  for  some  time  twice  a  day,  and  most  of  the 
time  containing  quinine. 

We  were  now  camped  on  the  banks  of  the  Chickahominy,  or 
in  its  immediate  vicinity.  Chickahominy!  "What's  in  a  name?" 
Yet  the  mention  of  that  name  causes  a  shudder  to  run  through  the 


50  ■  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

survivors  of  the  "Army  of  the  Potomac",  and  brings  many  sad 
memories  to  thousands  of  households  throughout  our  land.  Many 
men  there  contracted  disease  that  cost  them  their  lives  in  a  short 
time,  while  others  lingered  through  a  life  almost  made  irksome  by 
the  poison  then  taken  into  the  system,  and  yet  what  does  that 
name  represent  that  bears  so  important  a  part  in  the  history  of 
the  Rebellion? — a  small  stream,  formed  by  the  junction  of  a  num- 
ber of  small  streams  from  the  hilly  country  west  of  the  city  of 
Richmond,  flowing  in  a  southeasterly  course  and  emptying  into 
the  James  River,  about  eight  miles  above  the  city  of  Jamestown, 
its  whole  length  being  about  ninety  miles,  not  very  wide,  and 
while  in  itself  it  would  not  interfere  much  with  the  movements 
of  an  army,  yet  heavy  rains,  inundating  the  low  grounds  contigu- 
ous thereto,  and  the  soft  and  marshy  grounds  along  its  banks, 
made  it  impossible  and  the  movement  of  artillery  and  wagons 
very  difficult.  The  bridges  that  crossed  it  at  various  points  were 
all  destroyed  by  the  retreating  enemy,  and  our  men  had  to  replace 
them  at  the  points  most  needed  as  well  as  they  could  wath  the 
means  at  their  disposal. 

The  point  near  where  we  lay,  as  has  been  stated,  was  about 
three  miles  above  Bottom's  Bridge,  which  is  about  fifteen  miles 
from  Richmond.  About  half  way,  or  about  seven  miles  from 
Richmond,  is  New  Bridge,  and  four  miles  above  that  is  Mechan- 
icsville.  About  one  mile  above  Bottom's  Bridge  is  where  the 
Richmond  and  York  River  Railroad  crosses. 

Two  new  corps  were  formed  about  May  15th,  which  afterward 
became  the  Fifth  and  Sixth,  the  former  under  Porter,  contain- 
ing his  own  division,  commanded  by  Morell,  and  Syke's  Brigade 
of  Regulars,  now  increased  to  a  division  by  the  addition  of  some 
New  York  troops,  and  the  latter  under  Franklin,  containing  his 
own  division,  commanded  by  Slocum,  and  Smith's  division,  form- 
erly of  Keyes'  Corps. 

On  May  22d,  during  a  heavy  rain,  we  had  a  very  heavy  hail- 
storm, the  hailstones  being  very  large. 

On  23d,  our  Regiment  together  with  the  Twentieth  Massachu- 
setts made  a  reconnoissance  along  the  railroad  for  about  two 
miles,  thence  through  woods  and  thickets,  swampy  ground  and 
ploughed  ground,  grain  fields,  and  through  a  beautiful  orchard 


18G2]  FAIR  OAKS  .51 

with  trees  heavily  laden  with  green  fruit,  which  gave  promise,  if 
left  alone,  of  a  fine  crop.  After  resting  about  an  hour  at  noon, 
this  tramp  was  kept  up  until  4  o'clock,  when  we  made  prepara- 
tions for  camp,  having  marched  about  fourteen  miles,  while  the 
remainder  of  the  division  had  only  moved  about  four  miles.  For- 
tunately, we  were  in  light  marching  order,  the  knapsacks  having 
been  left  behind  to  be  brought  up  in  wagons,  but  they  did  not 
come  up  until  late  the  next  day.  much  to  the  inconvenience  of 
officers  and  men. 

On  27th  the  division  was  drawn  up  in  line  to  witness  the  dis- 
grace of  Captain  Davis  J.  Rich,  of  the  Thirty-fourth  New  York 
Regiment,  for  mutiny  on  account  of  his  position  in  line  being 
taken  from  him  and  given  to  another  company,  whose  captain's 
commission  antedated  his ;  he  was  stripped  of  his  sword  and 
buttons  and  dismissed  from  the  service,  and  then  sent  to  Wash- 
ington to  serve  one  year  in  jail. 

Heavy  firing  of  artillery  heard  all  day.  On  28th,  under  arms, 
moved  about  four  miles,  leaving  tents  standing  and  knapsacks  in 
them.  Xext  day  returned  to  our  camp.  This  movement  was  to 
support  Porter's  attack  on  Hanover.  About  five  hundred  pris- 
oners were  brought  in. 

Colonel  Banes,  alluding  to  these  movements,  says : 

About  the  time  of  Sedgwick's  arrival  at  the  river,  the  advance 
of  the  army  began  to  cross  at  both  Bottom's  Bridge  and  the  rail- 
road. After  reconnoitring  within  a  short  distance  of  Richmond 
and  nearly  to  the  James  River,  the  troops  that  had  crossed  fell 
back  to  points  nearer  the  Chickahominy,  and  commenced  fortify- 
ing their  position.  Casey's  Division  of  Keyes'  Corps  was  placed  on 
both  sides  of  the  Williamsburg  road,  six  miles  from  Richmond  and 
a  half  a  mile  beyond  Seven  Pines.  Couch's  Division  of  the  same 
corps  extended  from  Seven  Pines  to  Fair  Oaks  Station,  on  the 
York  River  Railroad.  Kearney's  Division  of  Heintzelman's  Corps 
was  on  the  same  road  to  the  rear  of  Peach  Orchard,  and  the 
division  of  Hooker  of  the  same  corps  was  protecting  the  ap- 
proaches from  White  Oak  Swamp,  that  lay  to  the  left  of  these 
divisions. 

Meantime  the  Corps  of  Sumner.  Porter,  and  Franklin  remained 
on  the  left  bank  of  the  river.  In  this  divided  condition  the  army 
remained  during  its  stay  before  Richmond,  although  the  relative 
positions  of  some  of  the  corps  were  changed  occasionally. 


52  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1S62 

By  the  27th  Sumner's  Corps  had  constructed  two  bridges  over 
the  river  for  the  passage  of  troops ;  one  of  them  was  called  the 
Grapevine,  and  the  other  Sumner's  Lower  Bridge.  At  this  work 
and  picketing   our  time  was  fully  occupied. 

While  on  this  movement  the  men  were  in  the  habit  of  firing  off 
their  guns  to  unload  them  for  cleaning,  and  several  of  the  men  in 
the  different  camps  were  accidently  shot,  so  that  strict  orders 
had  to  be  issued  to  prevent  further  accidents,  and  Colonel  More- 
head  punished  those  that  he  caught  b}^  standing  them  up  on 
barrels,  under  guard,  for  a  day  or  two  at  a  time. 

On  May  31st,  from  early  in  the  morning,  the  firing  of  artillery 
was  distinctly  heard  in  the  direction  of  Keyes'  Corps.  Our  corps 
was  encamped  near  the  Tyler  House,  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
Chickahomin}-,  over  which  it  had  constructed  two  bridges.  As 
soon  as  the  noise  of  the  battle  was  heard,  our  old  commander, 
General  Sumner,  was  impatient  to  be  ordered  forward ;  we  were 
soon  under  arms.  About  noon  he  could  wait  no  longer,  and 
began  to  move  his  columns  to  the  front,  so  that  when  the  orders 
came,  he  was  already  on  his  way.  Great  difficulty  was  experienc- 
ed in  getting  artillery  across  the  river,  now  swollen  by  the  recent 
heavy  rains,  and  the  swampy  ground  on  each  side.  One  of  the 
bridges  built  by  our  corps  was  called  the  "Grapevine",  from  its 
manner  of  construction,  being  stispended  by  large  ropes  tied  to 
the  trunks  of  trees.  This  swayed  backward  and  forwards,  and 
seemed  as  though  it  could  not  hold  out,  but  as  the  weight  of  the 
troops  increased  it  became  more  steady.  For  some  distance  on 
each  side  a  corduroy  road  had  been  built  over  the  soft,  swampy 
grounds  leading  to  each  end  of  the  bridge,  and  some  of  these 
logs  had  been  washed  away,  which  made  it  very  hard  to  cross 
with  the  artillery. 

Kirby's  Battery  broke  through  a  small  bridge  over  a  gully,  and 
his  men  and  horses  were  unable  to  get  it  out.  The  division 
hurried  on  past  until  our  brigade  reached  them,  and  General 
Burns,  knowing  the  value  of  artillery  and  that  every  piece  would 
be  needed,  halted  his  column  and  directed  his  men  to  take  the 
carriage  to  pieces  and  carry  it  and  the  gun  across  and  up  on  to 
solid  ground.  This  consumed  some  valuable  time,  and  General 
Sumner  sent  three  different  times  for  him  to  move  his  brieade 


1862]  FAIR  OAKS  53 

forward,  but  General  Burns  refused  to  go  without  his  artillery, 
and  his  action  was  subsequently  sustained  by  General  Sedgwick, 
commander  of  the  division.  Upon  resuming  our  march,  we  were 
met  by  General  Sumner,  who  urged  us  forward  at  double-quick, 
and  on  a  run  we  reached  the  front  and  were  put  in  position. 
General  Sumner  assuming  command  of  the  field.  The  report 
soon  spread  that  Sumner  had  arrived  with  his  corps,  and  as 
with  cheers  and  at  double-quick  we  rushed  into  position  we  gave 
fresh  courage  to  our  troops  that  had  fought  so  manfully  from 
early  morn. 

Gorman's  Brigade  was  advanced  rapidly  towards  Fair  Oaks 
Station  on  the  left,  to  the  relief  of  a  portion  of  Couch's  Division, 
separated  from  the  rest  of  the  corps,  now  fast  giving  way  before 
the  advancing  enemy.  Kirby's  Battery  was  soon  in  position  to 
assist  Gorman,  and  opened  with  canister  upon  the  enemy's  line, 
seeking  to  flank  us  by  the  right,  and  his  fire  cutting  them  to  pieces, 
compelling  them  to  retreat  to  the  woods  in  disorder.  General 
Burns  was  directed  to  advance  with  the  Sixty-Ninth  and  Seventy- 
Second  Regiments  of  his  brigade  to  the  right,  through  the 
woods,  to  check  the  enemy,  trying  to  turn  our  flank  towards 
the  Chickahominy ;  and  General  Sedgwick,  in  person,  led  the 
Seventy-First  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiments  to  the 
support  of  Kirby's  Battery  (formerly  Rickett's  Battery,  by  which 
name  it  was  equally  as  well  known),  which  the  enemy  now  deter- 
mined to  capture.  It  was  soon  recognized  by  General  Magruder, 
who  commanded  the  Rebel  forces  in  its  front,  as  the  battery  he 
formerly  commanded  while  in  the  United  States  Army.  Swear- 
ing a  fearful  oath,  he  ordered  the  charge,  saying  "On,  my 
Southern  braves !  That's  my  old  battery,  and  I  am  going  to 
have  it  or  sleep  to-night  in  hell".  Charge  after  charge  was  made, 
and  gallantly  made,  but  the  men  manned  their  Napoleons  too  well, 
and  each  fire  of  canister  swept  the  ground  in  their  front,  and  the 
well-directed  volleys  of  our  regiment  supporting  it  proved  to 
Magruder  that  his  former  battery  was  not  to  be  taken,  although 
at  one  time  it  seemed  almost  as  though  it  would  be,  as  his  men  got 
up  to  the  cannons,  and  one  of  his  officers  had  his  hand  on  the 
piece,  and  said  "This  is  my  gun".  "Not  yet",  replied  Captain 
Kirby,  as  he  was  knocked  down  by  one  of  the  cannoneers.     Three 


54  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

successive  charges  were  made  exclusively  upon  that  battery,  but 
each  time  they  were  driven  back  with  fearful  loss,  their  dead  and 
dying  literally  covering  the  ground,  which  proved  the  foresight 
of  Burns  as  to  its  value  in  battle.  They  acknowledge  a  loss  at 
that  point  of  1.283  killed,  wounded  and  missing  in  these  attacks 
to  capture  those  guns,  including  General  Hatton  killed,  and 
Hampton  and  Pettigrew  wounded,  the  latter  a  prisoner.  On  the 
right,  just  before  dark,  they  made  another  vigorous  efifort  to  turn 
our  flank,  when  Sumner  ordered  a  ba}-onet  charge  by  two  regi- 
ments of  Dana's  Brigade,  Twentieth  Massachusetts  and  Seventh 
Michigan,  and  three  regiments  of  Gorman's  Brigade ;  and  well  did 
they  do  their  work,  leaping  two  fences  between  them  and  the 
enemy,  rushed  upon  them  and  drove  them  in  confusion  from  the 
field ;  it  was  a  brilliant  charge.  It  was  near  dark  by  the  time 
General  Burns  with  the  Sixty-Ninth  and  Seventy-Second  Regi- 
ments reached  his  position  on  the  right,  and  the  battle  had  ceased 
for  the  day. 

General  Webb  in  his  book,  "The  Peninsula",  is  slightly  in  error 
in  his  statement  as  follows : 

General  Burns  took  part  on  the  right  of  Colonel  Sully  with  two 
regiments,  holding  two  in  reserve. 

The  two  in  reserve  were  the  Seventy-First  and  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixth,  and  they  were  taken  by  General  Sedgwick 
to  the  left  to  support  Kirby's  Battery ;  again : 

During  the  night,  the  Seventy-First  Pennsylvania  and  First  Cali- 
fornia, of  this  Division,  with  the  Nineteenth  Massachusetts,  Sixty- 
Third  and  Forty-Second  New  York  were  ordered  back  towards  the 
Chickahominy.  to  hold  the  line  of  communication  and  protect  the 
ammunition  and  artillery,  nearly  all  of  which  was  mired  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river. 

The  Seventy-First  Pennsylvania  and  the  First  California  are 
the  same,  and  they  were  not  taken  back  that  night ;  but,  as  will 
be  seen.  General  Burns  only  took  the  Seventy-Second  back. 

That  night,  between  12  and  i  o'clock.  General  Burns  was  order- 
ed by  General  Sumner  to  take  two  regiments  and  return  to  the 
bridge  to  cover  the  crossing  of  the  artillery.  While  en  route 
they  came  upon  the  enemy's  pickets  in  an  open  field  to  the  left. 


1862]  FAIR  OAKS  55 

which  proved  to  be  an  attempt  of  the  enemy  to  gain  Sumner's 
rear  and  capture  or  destroy  the  bridge  across  the  Chickahominy. 
General  Burns  halted  and  immediately  threw  out  skirmishers  and 
drove  them  back,  until  he  got  a  secure  lodgment  for  the  Sixty- 
Ninth  Regiment,  which  was  left  there  until  morning,  and  took  the 
Seventy-Second  back  to  the  Trent  House  overlooking  the  bridge. 
At  daylight  the  next  morning,  June  ist.  General  Burns  advanced 
the  Sixty-Ninth  Regiment  up  to  Gouldey's  house  and  established 
his  picket  line  beyond,  and  on  returning  to  the  Trent  House,  met 
General  McClellan,  who  had  just  crossed  the  bridge  (the  Grape- 
vine), and  rode  back  with  him  to  the  position  to  which  he  had  ad- 
vanced the  Sixty-Ninth  Regiment  on  Gouldey's  farm.  General 
McClellan  pronounced  it  the  key  to  the  position,  and  directed  him 
to  take  possession  with  his  brigade  and  a  battery  of  artillery. 
General  Burns  immediately  sent  orders  for  the  rest  of  the  bri- 
gade to  assemble  there,  and  the  Seventy-First,  and  our  regiment 
were  withdrawn  from  the  support  of  Kirby's  Battery,  and  the 
Seventy-Second  from  the  Trent  House,  and  placed  in  position 
alongside  of  the  Sixty-Ninth. 

The  fight  was  resumed  that  morning,  but  not  with  much  vigor, 
Richardson's  Division  being  about  all  that  was  engaged,  and  by 
noon  all  was  quiet  and  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks  or  "Seven  Pines", 
as  the  Confederates  called  it,  was  ended. 

During  the  day  Adjutant  Pleis  asked  Captain  Ford  to  take  a 
walk  with  him  over  the  field.  The}^  had  not  gone  far  when  the 
Adjutant  said,  "I  cannot  stand  this;  it  makes  me  sick  to  see  such 
terrible  sights ;"  for  they  beheld  the  dead  lying  thick,  piled  on  top 
of  each  other  just  as  they  had  fallen,  all  mangled  and  torn — de- 
composition already  taking  place — -the  groans  of  the  dying  and 
the  wounded,  who  had  not  yet  been  removed,  were  agonizing  to 
hear ;  so  he  turned  back,  but  the  captain  continued  on  and  soon 
came  upon  an  old  man,  sitting  up,  leaning  against  a  tree,  and 
across  his  lap  lay  a  young  lad,  whose  fine  features,  pale  face  and 
light  waving  hair  would  very  readily  be  taken  for  those  of  a  young 
girl.  Addressing  the  old  man,  the  captain  inquired  his  regiment : 
"Hampton  Legion",  he  replied ;  to  a  question  as  to  where  he  was 
wounded  he  replied  by  unbuttoning  his  coat  with  his  left  hand 
and  displaying  an  ugly  wound  in  the  right  arm.    The  Captain  then 


56  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

asked  the  lad  what  regiment  he  belonged  to.  and  he  replied. 
"Hampton  Legion".  "Then  you  know  each  other?"  "Yes.  he's 
my  boy",  said  the  old  man,  "he  fell  badly  wounded  in  the  leg, 
and  I  went  to  help  him  and  was  wounded  myself.  I  have  tied  it 
up  as  well  as  I  could  in  my  crippled  condition.  We  have  both 
lost  so  much  blood  I  am  afraid  we  cannot  stand  it  nmch  longer". 
Captain  Ford  asked  him  if  he  had  not  received  any  attention  yet, 
he  said  "No",  and  then  told  how  he  had  dragged  his  boy  to  the 
tree,  taken  off  his  own  shirt,  torn  it  into  strips,  tied  up  the 
wounds  as  well  as  he  could  and  then  sat  down,  taking  the  boy's 
head  on  his  lap ;  had  remained  there  waiting  to  be  taken  to  the 
hospital.  The  captain  explained  that  we  had  our  own  wounded 
to  look  after  first,  and  as  soon  as  possible  he  would  receive  at- 
tention. He  then  made  his  way  back  to  the  hospital  and  related 
the  circumstances  to  our  surgeon.  Dr.  Dwinelle,  and  asked  for 
some  whiskey  to  take  to  them.  The  doctor  gave  directions  to 
the  steward,  who  filled  a  tin  cup  about  half  full  of  brandy ;  he  then 
went  to  the  pump  to  get  some  water.  Here  a  guard  was  placed 
to  prevent  anyone,  except  the  surgeons  or  nurses,  taking  any 
water,  who  refused  to  let  even  the  Captain  have  any.  Captain 
Ford  said,  "I  want  this  for  a  rebel ;  for  a  father  and  son  lying 
out  in  the  woods,  both  badly  wounded  and,  perhaps,  dying".  The 
guard  immediately  filled  the  cup ;  and  accompanied  by  a  nurse, 
whom  Dr.  Dwinelle  had  directed  to  go  with  him,  with  some 
bandages  to  dress  their  wounds,  the  Captain  returned  to  the 
woods ;  raising  the  boy  he  gave  him  about  half  and  the  old  man 
the  balance,  who  thanked  him  and  said,  "Captain,  you  have  saved 
our  lives.  I  did  not  think  a  Yankee  would  be  so  kind".  The 
nurse  then  dressed  their  wounds  and  left  them  far  more  com- 
fortable. This  is  but  one  of  the  many  cases  that  could  be  told 
where  our  men,  at  great  inconvenience  to  themselves,  promptly 
rendered  assistance  and  comfort  to  those  of  the  enemy,  when 
wounded,  sick  or  hungry ;  even  the  guard,  who  had  repeatedly 
refused  our  own  men  water,  who  were  able  to  go  elsewhere  and 
get  it,  when  told  it  was  for  a  wounded  rebel,  freely  gave  it. 

Our  loss  was  very  light  indeed  considering  our  position,  yet 
enough  to  cause  sadness.  Companies  A  and  B.  being  on  detach- 
ed service  at  White  House,  were  not  engaged.     Captain  x^chuff. 


o  « 

-J   K^ 


1862]  FAIR  OAKS  57 

of  Company  E,  was  badly  wounded  in  the  leg.  Private  William 
D.  Polen,  of  Company  D,  and  Musician  Fred.  L.  Waugh,  of  Com- 
pany C,  were  killed,  and  the  following  wounded:  Sergeants 
Sloanaker,  of  Company  C,  and  Witter,  of  Company  I,  and  Pri- 
vates Seaman,  of  Company  C,  Holcomb,  of  Company  D,  and 
Reed,  of  Company  H.  wounded. 

The  field  presented  a  mournful  sight ;  the  dead  were  lying  un- 
buried,  the  hot  weather  causing  them  to  quickly  decompose,  im- 
pregnating the  air  with  their  foul  odors.  Details  were  made  to 
hurriedly  bury  them  in  trenches. 

The  wounded  were  gathered  into  the  temporary  hospitals, 
which  we  had  established  at  Courtney's  House,  with  little  con- 
veniences for  the  relief  of  their  sufferings,  yet  all  was  done  that 
could  be  done  for  them.  Chaplain  Harris,  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth  Pennsylvania,  was  appointed  Quartermaster,  and  had 
charge  of  the  rations  for  the  wounded.  The  greatest  difficulty 
was  to  procure  meat  for  them ;  the  condition  of  the  roads  and 
bridges  made  its  transportation  very  difficult ;  it  was  absolutely 
necessary  that  some  should  be  had  for  soup  at  once,  and,  none 
other  being  at  hand,  a  young  horse,  belonging  to  General  How- 
ard, who  had  been  wounded,  was  killed  and  soup  made  of  its 
meat,  and  found  to  answer  the  purpose,  being  greatly  relished  by 
the  poor  men,  who  little  thought  it  was  horse  meat.  As  fast  as 
the  wounded  had  received  attention,  and  were  in  condition  to 
be  moved,  they  were  sent  by  cars  to  White  House,  thence  by 
transports  to  Northern  hospitals. 

General  Howard  was  among  those  wounded  in  this  engagement 
and  lost  his  right  arm ;  and.  it  is  said,  as  he  was  being  carried  to 
the  rear,  he  met  General  Kearney,  who  had  lost  his  left  arm  in 
IMexico,  and  said  to  him :  "Kearney,  when  you  go  to  buy  a  pair 
of  gloves  I  will  go  with  you.  and  between  us  we  can  take  a  pair". 

General  Burns  in  his  official  report  said :  "I  am  entirely  satis- 
fied with  the  conduct  of  my  brigade.  It  has  been  christened  under 
fire,  and  will  do  what  is  required  of  it". 

The  official  report  of  the  loss  to  our  anr.y  is  890  killed.  3.627 
wounded  and  1,222  missing,  making  a  total  of  5,732.  That  of 
the  enemy  must  certainly  have  been  much  greater,  but  they  only 
acknowledge  4,283  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 


58  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

On  the  evening  of  the  2d,  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  and 
Seventy-First  were  moved  rapidly  to  the  left  to  support  Hooker's 
Division,  who  anticipated  an  attack,  which,  however,  was  not  made, 
but  we  remained  there.  During  the  night  a  heavy  rain  storm  set 
in,  completely  drenching  us ;  the  next  morning  we  were  moved 
back  to  our  Division,  passing  through  low,  swampy  ground  that 
bore  evidence  of  the  severe  struggle  of  May  31st,  the  dead,  in 
large  numbers,  still  lying  unburied  or  only  partially  buried,  now 
terribly  disfigured  and  rapidly  decomposing  with  the  heat ;  the 
sickening  odor  making  it  almost  unbearable,  clinging  to  our  wet 
clothes  and  even  tainting  the  food  in  our  haversacks. 

That  day,  June  3d,  General  Burns  was  ordered  to  feel  the 
enemy  at  Old  Tavern  and  cover  the  crossing  of  our  troops  in 
front  of  Porter's  position,  for  which  purpose  the  engineers  had 
been  sent  on  to  throw  up  works.  On  the  6th  was  relieved  by 
General  Baldy  Smith.  Arriving  there  General  Sumner  ordered 
him  to  clear  the  woods  in  front  of  his  line,  which  he  succeeded  in 
doing,  capturing  their  rifle  pits,  but  our  pickets  were  driven  from 
the  pits  the  next  morning  by  the  enemy's  artillery ;  but  we  re- 
took them  at  night  only  to  leave  them  the  following  morning  and 
again  occupy  them  at  night,  and  so  on  for  the  whole  time,  twenty- 
eight  days,  that  we  remained  there,  when  we  returned  to  our  posi- 
tion on  the  right  of  Richardson,  the  First  Division  of  our  Corps 
at  the  edge  of  Garrett's  farm,  our  right  extending  towards  the 
Chickahominy. 

On  Sunday,  June  8th,  while  advancing  the  picket  line  to  straight- 
en its  irregular  shape,  the  enemy  made  an  attack  and  partially 
flanked  our  line,  and  poured  an  enfilading  fire  upon  us,  our  line 
being  formed  by  two  companies  from  the  Seventy-First,  one  from 
the  Sixty-Ninth  and  two  from  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regi- 
ments, and  each  sustained  loss.  Of  our  Regiment,  Captain  Mar- 
tin Frost  and  Private  William  W.  Fairchilds  of  Company  K,  were 
killed,  and  a  number  of  men  wounded,  and  Lieutenant  Marine 
C.  Moore,  of  the  Seventy-First,  and  Lieutenant  Moran,  of  the 
Sixty-Ninth,  were  also  killed. 

On  the  following  night,  while  Lieutenant-Colonel  William  L. 
Curry,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth,  was  visiting  the  pickets 
towards  dawn,  he  got  outside  of  the  lines,  was  surprised  and  cap- 


18G2]  FAIR  OAKS  59 

tured.  The  pickets  at  that  point  had  fallen  back  during  the  night 
without  his  knowledge,  and  in  going  from  one  point  to  another 
he  was  outside  the  lines,  and,  before  he  knew  it,  was  in  the  enemy's 
hands ;  he  was  taken  to  Richmond,  thence  via  Petersburg  to 
Salisbury,  where,  in  company  with  General  Michael  Corcoran  and 
Colonel  John  K.  Murphy,  he  experienced  some  very  harsh  treat- 
ment, and,  in  about  three  months,  was  released  and  rejoined  the 
Regiment.  Companies  A  and  B,  with  Major  Stover,  were  reliev- 
ed from  their  duty  at  White  House  and  rejoined  the  Regiment. 

On  the  1 2th  we  were  paid  off. 

The  duty  here  performed  by  the  Regiment,  for  about  four 
weeks,  was  similar  to  that  before  Yorktown,  only  far  more  hazard- 
ous. In  our  front  lay  a  dense  wood  of  irregular  shape,  extend- 
ing, in  part,  into  the  enemy's  lines ;  in  another  part  our  picket  line 
extended  to  its  edge,  about  half-a-mile  in  advance  of  our  line  of 
works  hastily  thrown  up  of  logs  and  earth ;  the  trees  for  a  con- 
siderable distance  in  front  were  cut  down,  their  tops  towards  the 
enemy.  During  our  whole  stay  there  it  may  be  said  that  we  slept 
on  our  arms,  as  no  day  or  night  passed  that  we  were  not  hastily 
summoned  into  line  by  an  attack  on  our  pickets  or  an  unusual 
heavy  firing  in  front,  sometimes  brought  on  by  the  sharpshooters, 
who  concealed  themselves  in  the  trees  or  hastily  constructed  am- 
bushes, to  pick  off  any  one  who  came  within  range,  and  their 
fire,  at  times,  was  so  deadly  that  sorties  would  be  made  to  drive 
them  from  shelter.  As  these  shelters  were  generally  taken  be- 
fore daylight,  once  driven  from  them  there  was  rest  until  the  next 
day.  The  balloon  was  here  again  brought  into  requisition,  and 
ascents  made  every  day  to  spy  out  the  enemy's  position  and  move- 
ments. The  same  trouble  as  to  drinking  water  continued ;  sick- 
ness to  an  alarming  extent  prevailed,  grog  or  commissary  was 
again  regularly  issued,  and  those  who  never  before  took  it  stood 
now  beside  those  who  were  accustomed  to  its  taste,  and  regularly 
took  their  rations. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  June  12th,  about  i  o'clock,  while  called 
under  arms  by  an  attack  of  the  pickets,  we  witnessed  a  total  eclipse 
of  the  moon ;  we  remained  in  line  until  it  had  all  passed. 


60  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

THE    SEVEN    DAYs'    FIGHT, 

TOWARDS  the  latter  part  of  June  it  became  evident  that  some 
extensive  movement  was  contemplated.     It  seemed  to  per- 
vade  all   hands,   although   no   extraordinary  preparations 
had  been  made,  and  rumor  after  rumor  circulated  as  to  what 
movement  was  in  contemplation.     It  was  soon  known  that  the 
enemy  was  massing  on  our  right  and  threatening  that  flank. 

On  June  25th,  General  McClellan  began  his  advance  on  Rich- 
mond, and  our  left  was  advanced  to  see  if  the  enemy  was  still  in 
force  there,  and  soon  brought  on  a  very  heavy  engagement,  which 
involved  part  of  Heintzelman's  Corps,  Richardson's  Division  of 
our  Corps  and  a  brigade  of  Keyes'  Corps ;  they  found  a  strong 
force  of  the  enemy  still  there.  We  drove  in  their  first  line  and 
established  a  new  picket  line  within  four  miles  of  Richmond. 
This  was  called  the  battle  of  Oak  Grove,  and  was  the  nearest 
General  McClellan  ever  got  to  Richmond.  Late  in  the  afternoon 
General  McClellan  rode  past  and  was  cheered  along  the  whole 
line ;  this  brought  on  very  heavy  firing  in  our  front,  the  enemy 
advancing  to  endeavor  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  cheering. 
Our  artillery  opened,  it  was  taken  up  along  the  whole  line,  and 
became  very  heavy  on  the  extreme  right. 

The  next  day,  26th,  heavy  and  continuous  firing  was  heard  on 
the  right  and  was  kept  up  all  day,  telling  us  that  long  and  continu- 
ous fighting  was  going  on,  and  towards  evening  we  were  ordered 
in  line,  without  arms,  and  orders  read  announcing  a  victory  of ' 
McCall  over  Jackson,  at  Mechanicsville,  which  was  received  with 
cheers. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  a  series  of  engagements  that  took 
place  during  McClellan's  change  of  base  to  the  James  River, 
known  as  "The  Seven  Days'  Fight".  Whether  the  enemy  were 
aware  of  his  intention  to  assault  Richmond,  and  made  this  move- 


1S62]  THE  SEVEN  DAYS'  FIGHT  61 

ment  to  counteract  it,  or  had  determined  on  a  bold  strike  of  their 
own,  was  not  then  known ;  but  as  they  pressed  forward  with  the 
combined  forces  of  Longstreet,  Jackson  and  the  two  Hills,  and 
repeatedly  attack  our  forces  at  every  available  point,  we  then 
knew  that  they  planned  the  attack  to  force  McClellan  back. 

They  first  began  their  attack  on  General  Stoneman's  Cavalry 
Division  at  Mechanicsville,  drove  him  back  and  then  upon  Mc- 
Call's  Division,  who  held  them  in  check  for  over  four  hours,  de- 
feating them  at  every  point,  inflicting  heavy  loss  and  finally  drove 
them  from  the  field,  General  Porter  coming  to  his  assistance  with 
part  of  his  Corps. 

On  the  27th,  the  whole  force  of  the  enemy  was  thrown  upon 
General  Porter  who  repulsed  each  assault,  and  throughout  the 
whole  day  kept  the  enemy  at  bay,  fighting  against  fearful  odds, 
but  just  before  dark  they  broke  through  his  line  and  threatened 
disastrous  results,  when  Meagher's  and  French's  P)rigades  of 
Sumner's  Corps  arrived  and  restored  his  line,  and  ended  the  Battle 
of  Gaines'  Mills,  and  convinced  McClellan  that  it  was  necessary 
for  him  to  make  the  retrograde  movement  towards  the  James 
River,  and  General  Porter  was  ordered  to  retreat  after  repulsing 
spirited  charges  and  manfully  holding  their  groimd,  until  finally 
outflanked  and  compelled  to  retire  leaving  McCall's  Division 
covering  the  rear,  and  compelled  to  leave  behind  twenty-six 
guns  and  many  small  arms.  They  succeeded  in  carrying 
off  nearly  all  the  dead  and  wounded,  spiking  nearly  all  the  guns, 
burning  the  commissary  and  quartermaster  stores,  camp  equipage, 
and  breaking  up  the  wagons.  We  could  distinctly  hear  the 
heavy  cannonading  on  the  right  from  our  position. 

On  that  same  day,  June  27th,  they  made  a  furious  attack  on 
the  pickets  in  our  immediate  front,  trying  to  break  through  our 
line  evidently  to  see  if  we  had  been  withdrawn  and  sent  to  rein- 
force the  right :  several  additional  companies  went  to  the  assist- 
ance of  our  picket  line,  and  our  batteries  opened  with  such  good 
effect  that  the  enemy  was  soon  sent  back  behind  his  works. 

On  the  morning  of  June  28th,  orders  were  received  to  prepare 
to  move.  Quartermasters  began  to  send  all  extra  clothing  and 
spare  supplies  to  the  rear  while  the  wagons  belonging  to  the  trains 
were  loaded  with  rations  and  ammunition  and   sent  on   ahead. 


62  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

Hospitals  were  broken  up,  and  the  wounded  and  sick  were  trans- 
ferred to  Savage  Station.  Surgeons  and  their  stewards  busied 
themselves  preparing  medical  stores  for  the  ambulances,  then  pre- 
paring for  the  serious  work  that  seemed  indicated,  but  soon  the 
orders  were  countermanded ;  in  the  afternoon,  however,  they  were 
again  issued,  not  only  to  pack  up  but  to  destroy  all  that  could  not 
be  carried.  Quantities  of  supplies,  provisions  and  clothing  were 
destroyed,  barrels  of  meat,  boxes  of  crackers  were  broken  open 
and  their  contents  destroyed,  new  clothing  given  promiscuously 
to  the  men,  who  put  them  on  and  destroyed  their  old  ones  by 
cutting  and  tearing  them  to  pieces  and  with  axes  cut  up  iron 
kettles,  canteens,  cups,  tents,  tent  poles  and  muskets ;  everything 
that  we  thought  would  be  of  any  possible  use  to  the  enemy  was 
destroyed,  and  by  evening  everything  was  packed,  the  wagons 
all  loaded  and  sent  to  the  rear.  As  soon  as  darkness  shielded  us 
from  the  enemy's  view,  tents  were  struck,  and  with  knapsacks 
packed  and  haversacks  well  filled  all  were  ready  for  instant  move. 
Arms  were  stacked  and  in  line  we  rested,  awaiting  orders,  yet 
no  orders  came ;  the  enemy  suspected  some  movement  was  on 
foot  and  again  made  an  attack  on  the  pickets,  only  to  find  our  boys 
there  and  ready. 

During  these  preparations,  a  new  battery  of  rifled  guns,  com- 
manded by  Captain  Franks,  reported  to  General  Burns,  who  plac- 
ed it  in  position  to  strengthen  our  defences.  When  it  had  an 
opportunity  to  work  it  was  so  well  handled  that  it  became  quite 
a  favorite  subsequently  with  the  men.  A  shot  made  by  Captain 
Franks  with  one  of  these  guns  while  stationed  with  the  brigade 
was  equal  to  the  best  sharpshooting  practice :  a  scout  of  the 
enemy,  anxious  to  ascertain  why  our  men  were  cheering  and  what 
the  Yankees  were  doing,  ascended  a  tree  about  one  mile  distant 
to  take  observations — a  cannon  was  sighted  at  the  lookout,  and 
the  third  shot  carried  away  the  poor  fellow  and  his  shelter. 

General  Alexander  S.  Webb,  in  his  "Peninsula",  writes: — 

Thus  suddenly,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  which  was  actually 
pressing  towards  Richmond,  as  shown  by  the  affair  at  Oak 
Grove  on  the  25th,  found  itself  thrown  again  upon  the  defensive, 
in  the  midst  of  its  offensive  operations,  by  Jackson's  preconcerted 
and  timely  reinforcement  of  Lee. 


1862]  THE  SEVEN  DAYS'  FIGHT  63 

Further  on  he  says  : 

Jackson  with  an  overwhelming  force  was  nearby,  and  that  with 
Longstreet  and  the  two  Hills  he  was  about  to  make  an  effort  to 
destroy  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Their  entire  force  was  thrown  against  Porter's  single  Corps  at 
Gaines'  Mills  and  repulsed  each  time,  lasting  from  about  lo  o'clock 
until  dark.     Webb  adds: 

So  far  no  impression  had  been  made  in  the  stubborn  line.  Hard 
pushed. as  our  men  had  been  since  noon,  there  had  not  been  a  sign 
of  wavering  at  any  point. 

Webb  puts  Porter's  entire  command  at  17,330  infantry,  2,534 
artillery  and  671  cavalry,  a  total  of  20,535,  ^"d  the  combined 
forces  of  the  enemy  at  55,000.     Continuing,  he  says : 

General  McClellan  had  fought  an  army  with  one  corps  ;  yet  so 
stubborn  had  been  the  resistance  of  that  corps  that  Lee  and  Jackson 
both  believed,  and  so  reported  to  Richmond,  that  they  had  en- 
countered the  bulk  of  McClellan's  force. 

Just  before  daylight  on  the  morning  of  June  29th,  after  sleeping 
under  arms  all  night,  we  were  told  to  put  up  our  tents,  that  at 
daylight  the  enemy  might  not  see  that  we  contemplated  moving. 
But,  while  working  at  them.  General  Burns  rode  along  and  gave 
orders  to  be  ready  to  move  at  once,  and  just  after  daylight  we 
were  once  more  in  line  and  ready  to  march,  backward  instead 
of  forward,  and  gave  up  our  position  at  the  edge  of  Garnett's 
farm  about  five  miles  from  Richmond,  and  we  never  got  that  near 
again.  We  pushed  on  to  Peach  Orchard,  about  three  miles  in 
the  rear,  and  formed  in  line  of  battle  on  each  side  of  the  railroad 
on  Allen's  farm.  We  were  now  the  rear  guard,  and  were  told 
to  hold  the  enemy  in  check  until  the  whole  army  could  cross 
White  Oak  Swamp.  Our  pickets  were  quietly  withdrawn  just 
before  daylight  and  all  safely  rejoined  their  regiments. 

About  8  o'clock,  the  enemy,  having  discovered  our  retreat, 
rapidly  advanced  until  they  struck  our  line.  The  Seventy-First 
Pennsylvania,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  G.  Jones,  which  had 
been  ordered  back  by  General  Sumner  to  occupy  the  former  camp, 
was  advancing  for  that  purpose,  when  they  found  our  deserted 


64  THE   OXE  HUNDRED  AXD  SIXTH  REGIMEXT         [1862 

works  already  occupied  by  the  enemy,  who  at  once  attacked  them 
in  front,  while  another  column,  moving  down  the  railroad,  threat- 
ened their  left  flank.  Jones  fell  back  in  good  order  to  a  better 
position  on  the  left  of  the  railroad,  just  back  of  Allen's  house, 
and  joined  the  Fifty-Third  Pennsylvania,  under  Colonel  Brooke, 
fighting  all  the  way,  losing  nearly  one  hundred  killed  and  wound- 
ed, and  awaited  their  attack.  They  were  not  kept  waiting  long, 
but  were  furiously  assaulted ;  but  they  held  their  ground  against 
heavy  odds,  until  reinforcements  to  the  enemy  compelled  them  to 
retire.  General  Burns  was  sent  forward  to  take  command  of 
the  front  line,  and  shortly  afterwards  withdrew  it  to  the  position 
occupied  by  the  brigade,  and,  as  soon  as  the  enemy  appeared  at 
the  edge  of  the  wood  following  them  up,  Pettit's  and  Hazzard's 
Batteries  opened  with  such  good  efifect  as  to  compel  them  to 
retire,  although  they  made  several  attempts  to  dislodge  us,  and 
after  about  an  hour's  contest  the  battle  of  Peach  Orchard  ended. 
Our  Regiment  was  stationed  on  the  left  of  the  railroad,  support- 
ing Kirby's  Battery,  and  was  subjected  to  a  severe  fire  of  shot  and 
shell. 

General  Webb  calls  this  fight  the  "Battle  of  Allen's  Farm",  and 
says  that  it  was  fought  principally  by  the  Thirty-Seventh  Penn- 
sylvania, under  Colonel  Brooke,  that  occupied  a  log  house  in  front 
of  Richardson's  Division,  as  follows : 

Their  principal  efforts  being  directed  against  the  position  held  by 
Colonel  Brooke,  who,  reinforced  by  the  Seventy-First  New  York, 
of  Sedgwick's  Division,  held  his  own. 

This  is  an  error,  as  there  was  neither  any  Thirty-Seventh  Penn- 
sylvania or  Seventy-First  New  York  there,  nor  does  either  of 
these  Regiments  appear  in  McClellan's  ofififcial  roster ;  but  there 
was  a  Thirty-Seventh  New  York  and  a  Seventy-First  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  there  was  also  a  Fifty-Seventh  Pennsylvania,  but  as 
Colonel  Brooke  commanded  the  Fifty-Third  Pennsylvania,  we 
infer  that  that  is  the  regiment  General  Webb  referred  to,  but  that 
the  principal,  if  not  nearly  all,  fighting  was  done  by  the  Seventy- 
First  Pennsylvania,  instead  of  Colonel  Brooke's  Regiment,  is 
shown  by  their  heavy  loss — losing  ninety-six  in  killed  and  wound- 
ed. General  Burns,  our  Brigade  Commander,  recognizing  this, 
makes  special  mention  of  it  in  his  report  as  follows : 


1862]  THE  SEVEN  DAYS'  FIGHT  65 

The  Seventy-First,  under  jts  gallant  young  lieutenant-colonel, 
won  high  encomiums  from  the  corps  commander,  who  knows  what 
fighting  means. 

And  has  since  corroborated  the  above  in  a  private  letter  to  the 
writer  as  follows : 

When  General  Sumner  arrived  at  Peach  Orchard  it  was  found 
that  we  were  in  advance  of  General  McClellan's  preparations  for 
crossing  White  Oak  Swamp,  the  stores  at  Savage  Station  had  not 
been  destroyed,  so  he  directed  the  camps  of  Sedgwick  and  Rich- 
ardson's Division  to  be  reoccupied,  and  one  regiment  was  sent 
from  each  division ;  the  Seventy-First  Pennsylvania,  Colonel  Jones 
was  selected  from  my  brigade.  Colonel  Jones  met  the  enemy  be- 
fore reaching  our  camp  and  captured  three  prisoners,  and  gradually 
retreated  before  his  advance,  checking  him  as  much  as  possible. 
The  regiment  from  Richardson's  Division  retired  precipitately, 
leaving  Colonel  Jones'  flank  exposed ;  but  the  batteries  of  that 
division,  however,  checked  their  advance,  and  Colonel  Jones  made 
good  his  retreat.  General  Sedgwick  directed  me  to  go  to  the  edge 
of  the  wood  in  front  and  cover  the  movement  of  the  Seventy-First 
Pennsylvania  by  advancing  their  skirmishers,  with  orders  to  take 
command  of  the  front  line.  I  found  Colonel  Brooke,  of  General 
Smith's  Division,  behind  a  house,  some  hundred  yards  behind  the 
edge  of  the  woods.  I  directed  him  to  advance  his  regiment,  which 
he  declined  to  do,  saying  that  he  had  been  placed  .by  his  command- 
ing officer  behind  the  house.  I  informed  him  I  had  been  placed  in 
command  of  the  front  line,  and  his  position  was  within  the  limits 
of  my  command  and  he  must  obey  my  orders  promptly.  He  then 
advanced,  and  the  Seventy-First  came  in  behind  his  line  and  form- 
ed on  his  left.  The  enemy  were  repulsed  principally  by  the  artil- 
lery, but  when  we  were  ordered  to  retire  to  Savage  Station,  follow- 
ed close,  nearly  intercepting  the  Seventy-Second  Pennsylvania, 
my  rear.  General  Webb  is  mistaken  in  reporting  that  Colonel 
Brooke  repulsed  the  enemy ;  it  was  the  efifect  of  Colonel  Jones' 
slow  retreat  and  frequent  stands,  together  with  the  artillery  fire 
on  the  left  and  the  skirmishing  in  the  woods. 

Shortly  after  the  firing  had  ceased  we  were  ordered  to  proceed 
by  the  WilHamsbiirg  road  to  Savage  Station,  part  of  the  time  at 
double-quick,  our  only  thought  being  to  get  there  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  as  none  were  anxious  to  be  left  behind,  everything 
that  in  any  way  hindered  our  march  was  hastily  dispensed  with, 
and  the  road  was  strewn  with  knapsacks,  blankets,  tents,  over- 
coats, etc.,  no  time  being  taken  to  even  destroy  them.  The  men 
suffered  greatly  with  the  heat,  yet  every  effort  was  put  forth  to 


66  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

keep  up,  as  every  one  knew  that  to  fall  out  now  meant  to  fall  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy.  We  arrived  at  Savage  Station  about 
3  o'clock,  massed  in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  stacked  arms  and 
rested. 

It  being  impossible,  in  the  short  time  allowed,  to  remove  all  of 
the  immense  amount  of  stores  that  had  accumulated  at  Savage 
Station,  the  large  quantities  that  were  left  were  destroyed  by 
fire,  to  prevent  them  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy ;  the 
flames  and  smoke  ascending  high  in  the  air  as  barrels  of  beef, 
sugar,  cofifee,  rice,  boxes  upon  boxes  of  crackers  were  consumed ; 
the  torch  was  also  applied  to  cars  loaded  with  ammunition,  cloth- 
ing and  other  stores  that  had  not  been  run  ofif,  and  one  immense 
siege  gun  was  spiked  and  its  carriage  thrown  upon  the  burning- 
pile.  So  the  fearful  destruction  of  supplies  went  on,  as  though 
trving  to  keep  pace  with  the  terrible  loss  of  life  and  limb  that 
had  occurred  and  was  still  to  occur  in  those  seven  days'  fight 
for  change  of  base. 

General  Webb,  speaking  of  the  destruction  at  White  House, 
says : 

All  the  material  that  could  not  l)e  put  on  board  the  transports 
was  burned ;  the  engine  and  cars,  some  of  the  latter  loaded  with 
supplies,  were  put  under  full  head  of  steam  and  were  run  into  the 
river.  The  wagons,  to  the  number  of  five  thousand,  loaded  with 
everything  that  could  be  carried,  were  sent  on  their  way  across 
White  Oak  Swamp. 

Also  the  Reserve  Artillery  and  2,500  head  of  cattle. 

The  enemy  were  quickly  taking  advantage  of  our  retrograde 
movement  by  following  us  up,  reoccupying  the  land  and  hastily 
repairing  the  bridges  across  the  Chickahominy,  that  had  been 
destroyed  by  our  men  as  they  fell  back ;  they  pushed  rapidly  for- 
ward and  attempted  to  intercept  our  flank.  Franklin  was  on  the 
right,  Sumner  in  the  center  and  in  the  works  of  Seven  Pines, 
Heintzelman  on  the  left  and  nearer  Richinond ;  but  by  some  mis- 
understanding of  orders,  Heintzelman  withdrew  his  corps  and 
crossed  White  Oak  Swamp,  exposing  Sumner's  left  flank;  the 
enemy  soon  perceived  this  and  were  not  long  in  taking  advantage 
of  it. 

While  we  were  resting  under  cover  of  the  wood.  Generals  Sum- 


COLONEL  JOHN  H.  STOVER. 
Nov.  5,  1861.  April  4,  1864. 

As  Major. 
Promoted  to  Colonel  184th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  April  4, 


1862]  THE  SEVEN  DAYS'  FIGHT  67 

ner,  Franklin  and  Sedgwick  were  in  consultation  on  a  slight  eleva- 
tion in  open  ground,  just  a  short  distance  to  the  right  of  where 
we  were  lying,  accompanied  by  their  respective  staffs  and  escorts, 
when  two  horsemen  emerged  from  the  wood,  about  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  in  front,  a  little  to  the  right  of  where  they  stood,  remain- 
ed a  few  minutes  and  disappeared,  and  almost  simultaneously  a 
flash  was  seen  and  a  shell  came  tearing  just  over  the  Generals' 
heads,  quickly  followed  by  another ;  this  ended  the  consultation 
and  immediate  steps  were  taken  to  meet  this  attack. 

Our  battery,  which  was  in  position,  immediately  opened  and 
another  was  soon  run  into  position  and  commenced  firing.  Gen- 
eral Burns  was  directed  to  advance  two  regiments  of  his  brigade ; 
throwing  out  two  companies  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth, 
A  and  H,  and  two  companies  of  the  Seventy-Second,  under  the 
command  of  Major  Stover,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth,  who 
moving  at  double-quick  across  the  large  open  space,  soon  struck 
the  wood,  drew  the  fire  of  their  skirmishers  and  pushed  forward 
and  drove  them  back  to  their  main  line,  through  the  wood  and 
dense  underbrush.  General  Burns  now  advanced  with  the 
Seventy-Second  and  One  Himdred  and  Sixth  Regiments  to  their 
support,  and,  as  he  supposed,  the  support  of  Heintzelman's  posi- 
tion at  Seven  Pines,  but,  upon  arriving  at  the  edge  of  the  wood, 
found  that  Heintzelman  had  fallen  back,  and  crossed  White  Oak 
Swamp,  exposing  our  left  flank,  leaving  Burns  to  face  the  whole 
of  their  army  then  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Chickahominy,  they 
having  advanced  by  the  Williamsburg  road  and  were  massed  in 
large  numbers  in  the  dense  woods  on  each  side  of  the  road. 
Burns  called  for  reinforcements  and  the  First  Minnesota  w^as 
sent  him,  but  before  they  got  into  position  on  the  left  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth,  the  attack  commenced  with  artillery  and  over- 
powering numbers  of  infantry.  General  Burns  formed  his  line 
at  a  fence  at  the  edge  of  the  wood,  with  the  right  company  of 
the  Seventy-Second  Pennsylvania  facing  the  right  flank  on  the 
railroad,  which  drove  back  the  railroad  monitor,  and  the  left  of 
the  First  Minnesota  extending  across  the  Williamsburg  road,  the 
left  retired,  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  in  the  center.  Brooke 
afterwards  extended  this  line  to  the  left.  Burns  stubbornly  held 
his  ground  and  gallantly  repulsed  their  successive  and  desperate 


68  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

charges.  At  one  time  the  right  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
and  the  left  of  the  Seventy-Second  became  engaged  in  a  hand-to- 
hand  conflict  with  the  enemy  in  their  endeavors  to  break  through 
our  hnes,  but  our  boys  would  not  yield ;  their  artillery  fire  became 
very  heavy,  but  the  batteries  of  Pettit  and  Osborn  replied  with 
good  efifect.  The  Sixty-Ninth  and  Seventy-First  Pennsylvania, 
together  with  the  Eighty-Eighth  New  York,  were  our  immediate 
supports,  but  were  not  engaged.  Major  Stover,  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixth  Pennsylvania,  being  the  only  other  mounted  officer 
on  the  field,  volunteered  to  assist  and  was  of  great  service  to 
General  Burns,  who  had  sent  all  his  staff  officers  to  conduct  re- 
inforcements to  the  field,  and  through  the  hottest  fire  carried 
orders,  and  reported  the  movements  of  the  enemy  in  different 
parts  of  the  field,  thereb}^  rendering  valuable  service  to  General 
Burns. 

It  has  been  erroneously  stated  that  these  Regiments  broke  and 
fell  back  in  disorder;  that  is  not  so,  but  during  that  close  contest 
the  left  of  the  Seventy-Second  gave  way,  carrying  a  portion  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  with  it ;  but  they  soon  rallied,  regain- 
ed their  lost  ground  and  gallantly  held  it,  not  again  yielding  a  foot, 
notwithstanding  the  terrible  onslaught  of  largely  superior  numbers, 
until  withdrawn  at  9  o'clock  at  night.  After  nearly  three  hours 
of  this  unequal  contest,  their  ammunition  nearly  gone,  three  regi- 
ments of  the  First  Brigade  were  placed  under  General  Burns' 
command,  and  by  his  direction  relieved  the  first  line.  It  now 
being  after  dark  the  battle  of  Savage  Station  was  ended,  but  not 
without  heavy  loss,  and  was  fairly  a  victory  for  our  troops ;  the 
enemy  had  commenced  the  attack  and  were  severely  repulsed  and 
driven  from  the  field  on  which  the  fighting  was  done.  Our  loss 
was  principally  in  the  Seventy-Second,  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
Pennsylvania  and  the  First  Minnesota,  as  from  their  position  they 
received  the  principal  attack.  Company  I,  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth,  which  happened  to  be  stationed  across  a  small  road 
leading  through  the  wood,  suffered  severely,  losing  four  killed 
and  twelve  wounded ;  the  Regiment  lost  nine  killed,  twenty-four 
wounded  and  twelve  missing.  The  picket  line  was  established, 
and  the  men,  hungry  and  exhausted,  lay  down  for  rest,  and  held 
their  position  until  the  whole  corps  crossed  White  Oak  Swamp. 


1862]  THE  SEVEN  DAYS'  FIGHT  69 

This  was  designated  by  General  Sedgwick  as  "Burns'  Fight" ; 
while  the  contest  was  at  its  height  General  Burns  was  wounded  in 
the  face  with  a  minie  ball,  but  remained  with  his  brigade, bandaged 
his  face  with  his  handkerchief,  with  his  beard  and  clothes  clotted 
with  blood,  he  still  encouraged  his  officers  and  men  and  congratu- 
lated them  on  their  gallantry,  and  deeply  mourned  the  necessity 
of  being  compelled  to  leave  behind  so  many  brave  men,  wounded 
and  dying,  who  had  fought  so  well.  General  Sumner,  in  his 
official  report,  says : 

The  assault  was  met  by  Burns'  Brigade  in  the  most  gallant  manner. 

About  9  o'clock  the  line  was  quietly  withdrawn,  the  march  again 
resumed,  and  at  about  half-past  three  we  arrived  at  White  Oak 
Swamp  and  crossed.  The  moment  our  brigade  had  crossed  with 
the  rear  guard  the  bridge  was  cut  away,  but  not  a  moment  too 
soon,  as  the  rebel  cavalry  were  at  our  heels.  Leaving  Franklin's 
Corps,  Richardson's  Division,  and  Nagle's  Brigade,  and  Hazzard, 
Ayres  and  Pettit's  Batteries  to  dispute  the  crossing,  we  were 
moved  back  about  two  miles,  to  Nelson's  farm,  or  "Glendale", 
and  lay  down  to  rest,  completely  exhausted.  Our  Division  was 
massed  in  a  large  field,  between  New  Market  and  Charles  City 
roads,  on  the  right  of  Hooker's  Division,  who  now  occupied  the 
left  of  our  line ;  on  our  right  was  Kearney's  Division,  and  on  his 
right  was  Heintzelman ;  in  our  front  was  McCall's  Division  of 
Pennsylvania  Reserves,  west  of  the  New  Market  road. 

About  2  o'clock  the  enemy  under  Hill  and  Longstreet  began  the 
attack  on  McCall's  line,  with  two  regiments  from  the  Charles 
City  road ;  they  were  repulsed.  Hill  now  determined  to  use  his 
whole  force,  and  threw  brigade  after  brigade  against  McCall's 
Division,  who  stood  their  ground,  their  well-delivered  fire  assisted 
by  the  batteries  of  Randall,  Keen,  Cooper,  Dietrich  and  Cunning- 
ham, who  fired  with  terrible  effect,  preventing  his  advance. 
Hill  now  moved  to  the  left  of  McCall  and  attempted  to  flank  him. 
McCall  quickly  changed  front  and  ordered  a  charge,  which  was 
promptly  executed,  but  this  disordered  his  line ;  the  enemy  quickly 
took  advantage  of  it  and  threw  his  reserves  forward,  firing  as  they 
advanced ;  this  drove  our  men  from  their  guns  and  sent  McCall's 
left  back  in  disorder,  through  Sedgwick's  lines.     His  left  brigade, 


70  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

Seymour's,  was  doubled  up  and  then  Hay's,  but  his  right  brigade, 
Meade's,  held  their  ground.  Hooker's  position  was  too  far  in 
the  rear,  which  exposed  McCall's  left  flank,  hence  his  disaster. 
Burns'  Brigade  was  now  sent  to  the  relief  of  McCall,  the  Sixty- 
Ninth  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiments  were  ordered  for- 
ward, and,  while  advancing.  General  Hooker  ordered  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth,  and  led  it  in  person,  to  the  extreme  left  to 
the  support  of  the  Excelsior  Brigade,  under  General  Sickles, 
then  hotly  engaged.  General  Sumner,  when  he  turned  the  regi- 
ment over  to  General  Hooker,  said:  "Hooker,  this  is  your  fight; 
place  this  regiment  where  you  want  it".  The  Sixty-Ninth  con- 
tinued its  advance,  and  opened  fire  on  the  flank  of  the  now  advanc- 
ing enemy  that  had  repulsed  Seymour,  and  then  charged  upon 
their  line,  now  weakened  by  the  terrible  fire  of  double-shotted 
guns  from  the  batteries  of  Kirby,  King,  Thompson,  Owen  and 
Bartlett,  from  Sumner's  front.  It  was  a  brilliant  charge,  and  they 
drove  him  back  over  all  the  ground  he  had  won,  with  great  slaugh- 
ter. The  Seventy-First  was  advanced  to  the  position  vacated 
by  Hay's  Brigade ;  Sedgwick's  two  Brigades  were  returning  from 
Franklin  at  double-quick,  the  Nineteenth  Massachusetts  was  the 
first  to  arrive  and  was  immediately  placed  on  the  right  of  the 
Seventy-First  Pennsylvania ;  the  next  regiment,  the  Forty-Second 
New  York,  was  placed  on  the  right  of  the  Seventy-Second  Penn- 
sylvania, which  had  been  sent  by  General  Burns  to  support  the 
right  of  Meade's  Brigade.  The  Seventh  Michigan  and  Twentieth 
Massachusetts  were  placed  on  the  second  line,  to  which  the  other 
regiments  were  assigned  as  fast  as  they  arrived.  McCall,  trying 
to  rally  his  command,  met  Kearney's  Division  advancing  to  his 
assistance  on  the  right.  Soon  after  General  Kearney  himself 
rode  up,  and  at  once  took  steps  to  fill  up  the  break  in  McCall's 
lines,  but  not  without  heavy  loss,  which  included  the  capture  of 
General  McCall,  who  rode  into  the  enemy's  hands  while  trying 
to  reform  his  shattered  column.  General  Burns,  in  his  official 
report,  says : 

Colonel  Owen's  Sixty-Ninth  Pennsylvania,  unsupported,  pursued 
the  victorious  rebels  back  over  the  ground  through  which  they 
were  passing,  and  carried  the  crest  of  the  hill  where  McCall  lost 
his  artillery.     Gallant  Sixty-Ninth  ! 


1862]  THE  SEVEN  DAYS'  FIGHT  71 

The  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  remained  with  the  Excelsior 
brigade  throughout  the  entire  engagement,  and  whatever  credit 
is  accorded  that  brigade  in  that  engagement  is  equally  due  the 
One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania.  The  Seventy-First  and 
Seventy-Second  Regiments  were  sent  as  supports,  and.  Hay's 
Brigade  of  the  first  line  giving  way,  the  Seventy-First  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  Nineteenth  Massachusetts  were  thrown  into  the 
breach,  and  for  nearly  an  hour  poured  volley  after  volley  into  the 
enemy's  line,  and  checked  their  advance  at  that  point.  Burns 
says: 

Nobly  did  they  redeem  the  faults .  of  their  comrades.  These 
two  noble  regiments  met  the  enemy  face  to  face,  and  for  nearly 
an  hour  poured  into  them  such  tremendous  volleys  that  no  further 
attack  was  made  at  that  point. 

The  Seventy-Second  Pennsylvania  and  the  Forty-Second  New 
York  protected  the  right  of  Meade.  Thus  the  entire  brigade, 
though  detached,  rendered  valuable  and  efifective  service,  each 
regiment  holding  an  important  position  and  doing  efifective  work. 
About  I  o'clock  at  night  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment, 
then  on  the  advance  picket  line  was  withdrawn,  and  was  ordered 
to  rejoin  its  brigade,  which  it  did  at  daylight  the  next  morning, 
July  1st,  at  Malvern  Hill. 

At  Malvern  Hill  the  brigade  was  principally  employed  in  sup- 
porting batteries,  and  was  moved  to  such  points  as  seemed 
threatened,  subject  to  heavy  artillery  fire  but  fortunately  with 
very  light  loss.  At  9  o'clock  at  night  we  were  hurried  mto  line 
and  started  back  towards  Richmond,  instead  of  continuing  the 
retreat.  "On  to  Richmond !"  was  the  cry  once  more.  All 
hands  were  elated  and  feeling  confident  of  reaching  there  now, 
and  were  pushing  rapidly  forward  when,  after  a  march  of  about 
six  miles,  the  order  was  countermanded  and  we  were  turned 
around,  marched  back  and  continued  on  until  we  arrived  at 
Harrison's  Landing  about  daylight,  marching  through  fields  and 
woods  in  a  drenching  rain  that  began  towards  morning.  The  only 
road  being  full  of  cavalry,  artillery  and  wagons,  we  were  covered 
with  mud,  wet  to  the  skin,  sufi^ering  with  hunger  and  completely 
worn    out    and    correspondingly    disheartened.     Thus    ended    the 


72  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

famous  seven  days'  fight,  and  seven  nights'  march,  and  the  suc- 
cessful termination  of  a  retrograde  movement  in  which  a  severe 
battle  was  fought  each  day,  resulting  in  a  decided  victory  for  the 
retreating  army,  who  occupied  the  ground  on  which  each  fight 
was  fought  at  the  close  of  the  battle,  and  then  retreated  in  the 
night. 

Our  brigade  was  marched  to  a  position  in  a  large  wheat  field, 
which  the  rain  had  turned  into  a  mud  field,  and  as  soon  as  the 
ranks  were  broken,  the  men  gathered  together  the  bundles  of 
straw  in  the  stacks,  to  make  beds  to  lie  upon  and  protect  them 
from  the  mud,  and  those  that  had  tents  got  them  up  in  some  man- 
ner, and  soon  nearly  all  were  trying  to  sleep,  in  the  rain  and  mud, 
paying  little  attention  to  the  distant  booming  of  cannon.  In  the 
afternoon,  rations  of  cofifee,  sugar  and  crackers  arrived  and  were 
liberally  issued,  and,  somewhat  rested  with  the  sleep  that  many 
had  secured,  the  inner  man  was  then  attended  to,  and  all  hands 
felt  much  better  and  in  better  spirits.  Early  the  next  morning, 
July  3d,  we  were  hurried  into  line,  marched  to  the  front,  and  put 
into  position,  as  an  attack  was  expected ;  but  as  no  attack  was 
made,  we  were  taken  back  to  camp. 

July  4th  greeted  us  with  a  beautiful,  bright  day.  The  sun  was. 
out  in  all  his  brightness  and  heat,  a  welcome  visitor,  notwithstand- 
ing the  heat,  to  dry  up  the  ground  and  our  clothes,  now  wet  with 
the  two  days'  rain.  Orders  were  received  to  move,  and  soon  we 
were  again  on  the  march,  but  this  time  only  to  change  camp. 
We  marched  about  three  miles  and  camped  on  the  banks  of  a 
large  creek.  About  12  o'clock  the  different  batteries  of  artillery 
fired  a  national  salute,  the  bands  began  playing,  and  General 
McClellan  and  staff,  in  full  dress  uniform,  rode  along  the  line, 
and  were  received  with  cheers.  The  following  address  of  Gener- 
al IMcClellan  was  then  read  to  each  command : — 

Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  : — Your  achievements 
of  the  last  ten  days  have  illustrated  the  valor  and  endurance  of 
the  American  soldier.  Attacked  by  superior  forces,  and  without  the 
hope  of  reinforcements,  you  have  succeeded  in  changing  your  base 
of  operations  by  a  flank  movement,  always  considered  as  the  most 
hazardous  of  military  expedients.  You  have  saved  all  your  ma- 
terial, all  your  trains,  and  all  your  guns  except  a  few  lost  in  battle ; 
and  you  have  taken   in   return  guns  and  colors   from  the  enemy. 


1862]  THE  SEVEN  DAYS'  FIGHT  73 

Upon  your  march  you  have  been  assailed  day  after  day  with  des- 
perate fury,  by  men  of  the  same  race  and  nation,  skilfully  massed 
and  led.  Under  every  disadvantage  of  numbers,  and  necessarily 
of  position  also,  you  have,  in  every  conflict,  beaten  back  your  foes 
with  enormous  slaughter.  Your  conduct  ranks  you  among  the 
celebrated  armies  of  history.  No  one  will  now  question  that  each 
of  you  may  always  with  pride  say,  "I  belong  to  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac".  On  this,  our  Nation's  birthday,  we  declare  to  our  foes, 
who  are  rebels  against  the  best  interests  of  mankind,  that  this 
army  shall  enter  the  capital  of  this  so-called  Confederacy ;  that  our 
national  constitution  shall  prevail ;  and  that  the  Union,  which  alone 
can  insure  internal  peace  and  external  security  to  each  State, 
"must  and  shall  be  preserved",  cost  what  it  may  in  time,  treasure 
and  blood. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  official  report  of  Colonel  More- 
head  of  this  campaign : 

Head  Quarters  io6th  Regiment  Penna.  Vols. 

Camped  near  Harrison's  Landing,  Va.,  July  §tli,  1862. 

Captain  Geo.  A.  Hicks,  Asst.  Adj.  General. 

Captain  : — In  obedience  to  orders,  my  command  left  their  camp 
near  Fair  Oaks,  on  Sunday  morning,  the  29th  ult.,  about  daylight, 
and  soon  after  reached  Allen's  Farm.  We  were  thrown  into  the 
woods.  In  about  half  an  hour,  the  enemy  appearing,  we  left  the 
woods  and  formed  in  line  of  battle,  supporting  Kirby's  Battery, 
where  we  remained  for  some  time  under  a  heavy  fire  of  shot  and 
shell.  In  about  an  hour  I  received  orders  from  General  Burns  to 
proceed  at  double-quick  by  the  Williamsburg  road  to  Savage  Sta- 
tion, which  I  immediately  did,  and  reached  there  about  3  o'clock, 
and  again  formed  in  the  woods.  About  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
the  regiment  left  the  woods,  formed  in  line  of  battle  and  advanced 
to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  where  the  enemy  were  appearing  in  full 
force,  the  Seventy-Second  Regiment  being  on  our  right  and  the 
First  Minnesota  Regiment  on  our  left.  We  opened  fire  and  con- 
tinued firing  from  two  to  three  hours.  We  remained  in  our  posi- 
tion until  about  9  o'clock,  when  we  were  ordered  to  cross  the  White 
Oak  Swamp,  which  was  accomplished  about  half  past  3  o'clock 
the  following  morning.  About  10  o'clock  we  received  orders  and 
immediately  marched  to  and  bivouacked  in  a  grain  field.  About 
2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  enemy  again  appeared  in  large  force 
on  Nelson's  farm  and  soon  made  an  attack  upon  us,  which  extend- 
ed along  the  entire  front  of  our  lines.  We  were  ordered  to  form 
on  the  left  of  the   Sixty-Ninth   Penns3dvania  Volunteers.     While 


74  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

we  were  doing  so  we  were  ordered  forward  to  the  relief  of  General 
Sickles'  Excelsior  Brigade,  Hooker's  Division,  who  were  at  that 
time  very  sorely  pressed,  a  momentary  panic  having  taken  place  in 
consequence  of  the  loss  of  some  artillery,  which  was  soon  after 
recaptured.  We  took  a  position  on  the  right  as  a  support.  Shortly 
after  dusk  the  Excelsior  Brigade  was  withdrawn  and  we  were 
moved  to  the  front,  where  we  remained  until  about  i  o'clock  next 
morning,  when  we  were  ordered  to  rejoin  our  brigade,  which  was 
accomplished  at  Malvernton,  after  daylight.  In  a  short  time  we 
were  ordered  to  take  a  position  in  a  clover  field  facing  the  enemy's 
batteries,  where  we  remained  for  some  hours  under  a  heavy  fire 
of  shot  and  shell,  which  soon  began  to  tell  on  us,  the  enemy  having 
obtained  a  perfect  range  of  us,  when  we  were  ordered  by  General 
Sedgwick  to  take  the  regiment  to  the  right  of  our  line.  Here  we 
remained  until  about  ii  o'clock,  when  I  was  ordered  to  report  to 
General  Dana  and  to  take  position  on  the  right  of  his  line  to  sup- 
port the  pickets  of  that  front.  We  remained  here  until  half  past 
I  o'clock  the  next  morning,  when,  by  order  of  General  Dana,  we 
moved  with  his  brigade  to  this  point,  where  we  immediately  rejoin- 
ed our  brigade. 

My  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing  in  the  several  engage- 
ments being  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  (123).  Too  much 
praise  cannot  be  awarded  to  both  officers  and  men  during  the 
entire  engagements  for  their  ability  under  severe  fire  and  prompt- 
ness in  executing  all  commands,  with  the  exception  of  Lieutenant 
Joseph  T.  Banister,  of  Company  B,  who  deserted  his  company  by 
running  away  in  the  early  part  of  the  engagement  at  Savage  Sta- 
tion, and  has  not  since  been  seen  or  heard  of  by  me. 

I  beg  leave  to  mention  the  signal  services  of  Major  John  H. 
Stover,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  advanced  skirmishers  at  Savage 
Station,  and  who  was  afterwards  detached  in  charge  of  the  pickets 
during  the  night  and  withdrawing  them  after  the  army  had  moved 
forward,  and  joined  his  command  with  safety. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.   G.    MOREHEAD, 

Colonel  commanding  io6th  Regiment  Penna.  Vols. 
F.  M.  Pleis.  Adjutant. 

The  wound  received  by  General  Burns  in  the  face  at  Savage 
Station  now  becoming  dangerous,  the  surgeon  ordered  him  to 
the  rear,  and  before  going  he  published  the  following  address  to 
his  men : 


1862]  THE  SEVEN  DAYS'  FIGHT  75 

General  Orders,  Head  Quarters  Burns'  Brigade. 

No.  22- 

Harrison's  Landing,  Va.,  July  8th,  1862. 
After  an  age  of  events  which  have  multiplied  themselves  so 
rapidly  in  the  really  short  time  of  our  acquaintance,  I  feel,  in 
bidding  you  a  short  "Good  Bye",  that  the  strongest  ties  have  grown 
around  our  hearts.  I  have  twice  had  occasion  to  report  to  superior 
authority  the  conduct  of  my  brigade  in  battle.  At  Fair  Oaks  I  said, 
"I  am  satisfied  with  my  brigade ;  it  has  been  christened  under  fire, 
and  will  do  what  is  required  of  it".  You  have  borne  me  out  in  my 
proud  assertion ;  I  say  in  my  report  of  the  recent  hard  fought 
battles,  "I  repeat  my  assertion  at  Fair  Oaks — I  am  satisfied  with 
the  conduct  of  my  brigade,  none  will  gainsay  it".  You  have, 
indeed,  won  a  proud  distinction.  Your  banners  have  floated  on 
the  hardest  fought  fields — and  in  every  scene  they  waved  there  after 
the  enemy  had  left.  I  thank  you !  I  am  proud  of  you — I  love  you. 
Good  Bye.  Wm.  W.  Burns, 

Brigadier  General  commanding  Brigade. 

This  was  thought  by  both  General  Burns  and  his  brigade  to  be, 
as  he  said,  a  short  good  bye  ;  but  it  was  a  long  one,  lasting  forever, 
as  General  Burns  only  returned  to  his  old  brigade  when  sufficient- 
ly recovered  to  return  to  duty,  for  a  few  days,  on  October  9th, 
as  he  had  received  his  promotion,  and  was  soon  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  First  Division  of  the  Ninth  Corps.  He  had  made 
himself  popular  with  his  command,  who  admired  him  not  onlv 
for  his  personal  bravery  and  devotion  to  duty,  but  for  his  thorough 
soldierly  training,  that  taught  both  officers  and  men  the  full  duty 
of  a  soldier.     His  loss  was  deeply  regretted. 

General  Sedgwick,  commanding  the  Division,  in  his  letter  from 
Harrison's  Landing,  writes  as  follows : 

Head  Quarters  2d  Division,  2d  Corps. 
Camp  near  Harrison's  Bar,  Va.,  July  6th,  1862. 
AssT.  Adj.  General  Sumner's  Corps: 

Sir  : — In  transmitting  my  report  of  the  actions  of  June  29th 
and  30th,  I  desire  to  call  especial  attention  of  the  General  com- 
manding the  Corps  to  the  gallantry  of  Brigadier  General  Burns, 
and  respectfully  submit  that  a  grade  is  but  a  small  recompense  for 
his  services  on  those  occasions. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

John  Sedgwick, 
Brigadier  General  commanding. 


76  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

Which  General  Sumner  endorsed  as  follows : 

I  very  cordially  agree  with  General  Sedgwick  in  his  recom- 
mendation. I  know  General  Burns  well,  and  know  that  he  has 
fairly  earned  his  promotion. 

E.  V.  Sumner, 
Commanding  Corps. 
General  McClellan  writes  as  follows : 

General  Sumner  in  his  endorsement  and  General  Sedgwick  in 
his  report  of  July  5th  and  letter  of  July  6th,  1862,  have  not  over- 
rated the  importance  of  the  services  rendered  by  General  Burns 
during  the  period  from  June  29th  to  July  2d,  1862.  The  conduct 
of  General  Burns  at  Savage  Station  and  at  Glendale  on  29th  and 
30th  was  something  more  than  that  display  of  gallantry  which  every 
brigade  commander  ought  to  possess.  In  both  instances  the  suc- 
cess achieved  was  against  large  odds  and  under  very  trying  circum- 
stances, and  one  of  vital  importance  to  the  success  of  the  move- 
ment then  in  progress. 

In  giving  the  history  of  troops  serving  in  campaigns  the  success 
of  the  commander  represents  their  success.  Without  their 
character  his  credit  would  be  nothing;  with  their  bravery  his 
success  is  entwined.  A  company  takes  its  reputation  from  the 
glory  of  the  regiment,  the  regiment  of  the  brigade,  and  so  on. 
The  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment  w^as  an  integral  of  the 
force  represented  in  the  encomiums  of  Sedgwick,  Sumner  and 
McClellan. 

A  general  officer,  writing  of  our  brigade  and  these  events, 
says: 

Burns'  Brigade,  with  Sedgwick's  Division,  was  chosen  by  the  Gen- 
eral-in-Chief from  Banks'  Corps,  and  transferred  to  join  the  noble 
Army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  struggle  against  the  enemy's  main 
army  in  front  of  his  capital,  a  distinction  for  which  he  ever  after 
felicitated  himself.  When  imminent  danger  threatened  he  never 
called  in  vain  for  their  services.  He  ordered  Sedgwick's  Division 
to  support  the  direct  attack  on  Yorktown,  in  April,  1862.  He 
ordered  Burns'  Brigade  to  make  the  first  reconnoissance  of  the 
enemy's  works  from  Yorktown  to  Lee's  Mills,  which  was  perform- 
ed by  the  Seventy-Second  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiments 
with  success,  and  was  of  vital  importance.  Sedgwick's  Division 
was  selected  to  join  Franklin's  turning  expedition  to  West  Point, 
and  again  to  support  Porter's  attack  on  Hanover.     It  was  at  West 


'^/^r^^r—r^ 


Lieut.  Col.  and  Brev't  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A. 


1862]  THE  SEVEN  DAYS'  FIGHT  77 

Point  that  General  Sumner  pronounced  Burns'  Brigade  the  "elite 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac".  Sedgwick's  Division  crossed  the 
Chickahominy  on  its  own  bridge  and  saved  Casey's  Division  from 
disaster  at  Fair  Oaks.  Burns'  Brigade,  on  the  night  of  the  first 
day's  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  discovered  and  occupied  the  opening  in 
Sumner's  rear  at  Goldey's  farm,  and  checked  the  enemy  moving 
to  gain  the  bridge  across  the  Chickahominy.  General  McClellan 
said  it  was  the  key  to  the  position.  Burns'  Brigade  cleared  the 
woods  of  the  enemy  in  front  of  Sumner's  position,  capturing  his 
rifie-pits  at  the  edge  of  Garnett's  farm,  and  held  that  contested 
ground  for  twenty-eight  days,  losing  many  valuable  men,  including 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Curry,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regi- 
ment, captured.  The  first  and  second  days  of  the  Seven  Days' 
Fight,  Burns'  lines  were  furiously  attacked  and  firmly  held ;  the 
third  day  his  brigade  was  in  the  front  line  of  battle  at  Peach 
Orchard,  and  checked  the  enemy ;  the  same  day  they  were  sent 
back  to  Savage  Station  to  meet  the  approaching  enemy  and  pro- 
long Heintzelman's  position  at  Seven  Pines.  General  Burns, 
advancing  with  the  Seventy-Second  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
Regiments,  found  that  Heintzelman  had  fallen  back  across  White 
Oak  Swamp,  leaving  Burns  to  meet  all  of  the  army  of  the  enemy 
then  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Chickahominy.  He  with  the 
Seventy-Second,  One  Himdred  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania  and  the 
First  Minnesota,  sustained  an  attack  of  several  hours  of  artillery 
and  overpowering  numbers  of  infantry,  until  reinforcements  ar- 
rived and  extended  the  flanks.  This  was  designated  by  General 
Sedgwick  as  "Burns'  fight".  The  fourth  day  Burns'  Brigade  was 
held  in  reserve  behind  McCall's  Division  at  Glendale.  McCall 
having  a  faulty  position,  not  joining  Hooker  on  the  left,  was 
struck  in  the  flank  and  crumbled ;  his  broken  line  passed  through 
Burns'  Brigade,  who  advanced  the  Sixty-Ninth,  Seventy-First  Penn- 
sylvania and  the  Nineteenth  Massachusetts,  and  their  crushing 
volleys  checked,  and  with  reinforcements  drove  the  advancing 
enemy  from  the  battlefield,  thus  saving  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
from  being  pierced  in  the  center.  General  McClellan  pronounced 
this  success  as  vital  to  the  movement  then  in  progress  as  Frank- 
lin's was  at  White  Oak  Swamp  and  Porter's  at  Malvern  Hill, 
twelve  miles  apart.  The  fifth  day  at  Malvern  Hill,  Burns'  Brigade 
was  sent  to  the  extreme  right  to  meet  a  supposed  flank  movement 
of  the  enemy  and  returned,  and  was  under  close  artillery  fire 
during  the  battle.  After  arriving  at  Harrison's  Bar  the  enemy 
again  attacked  with  artillery,  and  Burns'  Brigade  went  to  the  front, 
but,  the  firing  ceasing,  returned  to  their  camp.  The  Seven  Days' 
Fight  was  over,  this  brigade  taking  no  small  part  in  that  move- 
ment, the  most  delicate  and  dangerous   in   war — change   of  base. 


78  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

And  General  McClellan  says  of  the  battle  of  Savage  Station : 

At  4  p.  M.  the  enemy  commenced  the  attack  in  large  force  by  the 
Williamsburg  road.  It  was  gallantly  met  by  General  Burns'  Bri- 
gade, supported  and  reinforced  by  two  lines  in  reserve;  and 
Hazzard's,  Bramhairs,  Pettit's  and  Osborn's  Batteries  also  took 
part  effectively  in  this  action,  which  was  continued  wath  great  ob- 
stinacy until  between  8  and  g  p.  m.,  when  the  enemy  was  driven 
from  the  field. 

And  of  Glendale  he  says  : 

General  McCall's  troops  soon  began  to  emerge  from  the  woods 
into  the  open  field,  batteries  were  in  position  and  began  to  fire 
into  the  w-oods  over  the  heads  of  our  men  in  front.  Captain  De 
Russey's  battery  was  placed  on  the  right  of  General  Sumner's  artil- 
lery with  orders  to  shell  the  woods.  General  Burns'  Brigade  was 
advanced  to  meet  the  enemy  and  soon  drove  him  back.  Other 
troops  began  to  return  from  White  Oak  Swamp. 

And  adds : 

The  battle  of  Glendale  was  the  most  severe  action  since  the 
battle  of  Fair  Oaks.  About  three  o'clock  the  action  commenced 
and  after  a  furious  contest  till  after  dark,  the  enemy  was  routed 
at  all  points  and  driven  from  the  field. 

Bryant  gives  the  losses  of  both  armies  in  the  Seven  Days' 
Fight  as  follows:  Federal.  1,582  killed,  7.709  wounded  and  5,958 
missing,  a  total  of  15,249.  The  Confederates,  exclusive  of  Ma- 
gruder's  Division,  lost  2,472  killed,  11,774  wounded  and  399 
missing,  a  total  of  14,645.  Magruder's  Division  lost  at  least 
4,500.  making  a  grand  total  of  over  19.000.  This,  upon  examina- 
tion, shows  that  the  losses  of  the  enemy  were  mtich  greater  than 
ours,  our  killed  and  wounded  being  btit  9,291,  and  theirs  was  at 
least  18,500:  we  losing  nearly  6,000  as  prisoners,  and  they  only 
about  600. 

We  were  now  to  rest  awhile,  rest  after  the  severe  ordeal  through 
which  we  had  passed.  The  intense  excitement  and  the  wearisome 
fatigue  of  the  last  seven  days — fighting  day  after  day,  and  march- 
ing night  after  night,  out  of  provisions  and  scarcity  of  water — sadly 
did  we  need  rest ;  and  yet,  while  resting,  we  thought  of  those  who 
were  now  taking  their  final  rest,  and  those  suffering  with  wounds, 
who  a  few  days  before  stood  by  our  side.     Our  loss  in  the  Seven 


18621 


THE  SEVEN  DAYS'  FIGHT 


79 


Days'  Fight,  as  far  as  the  writer  has  found  reported,  was  eleven 
killed,  twenty-five  wounded,  seventeen  missing,  total  fifty-three. 
Yet  Colonel  Morehead  in  his  report  puts  the  total  loss  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing  at  one  hundred  and  twenty-three.  Many 
of  these  were,  perhaps,  reported  missing,  who  afterward  reported 
for  duty,  and  others  may  have  been  so  slightly  wounded  as  not 
to  appear  on  subsequent  reports. 

Those  killed  were :  Private  Fred.  Sheak,  of  Company  A ;  Wil- 
liam H.  Comfort,  Company  C ;  Wickham  Harding  and  Robert  M. 
King,  Company  D ;  Michael  Campbell  and  Patrick  Shaye,  Com- 
pany E;  John  Robb,  Company  G;  William  Blackburn.  Isaac 
Campbell,  James  Fulton  and  John  Stevenson,  Company  I. 


COMPANY 


A 
B 
C 
D 
E 
F 
G 
H 
I 
K 


WOUNDED 


25 


CAPTURED 


17 


7 
4 
6 

7 
5 
2 

I 
I 

15 
5 


53 


We  were  encamped  by  the  side  of  a  running  creek  with  a  large 
mill-dam  a  short  distance  through  the  wood.  This  enabled  the 
men  to  keep  themselves  and  their  clothes  clean,  and  to  enjoy 
frequent  baths,  many  of  us  going  in  twice  a  day.  The  intense 
heat  made  the  days  almost  unbearable,  and  the  nights  were  hardly 
long  enough  to  recover  thoroughly  from  the  effects  of  the  day ; 
innumerable  quantities  of  iiies  of  various  kinds,  and  other  insects, 
annoyed  us  by  day,  and  mosquitoes  by  night;  fevers,  scurvy  and 
diarrhcea  prevailed  to  an  alarming  extent.  The  active  force  was 
fast  becoming  the  hospital  force.  Men  were  stricken  down  with 
disease,  and  would  be  carried  to  the  hospital  to  be  carried  out  dead 
in  a  few  days.  .  Many !  Alas  too  many  good  men  were  thus  lost, 
and  the  transports  carried  away  over  twelve  thousand  sick.  But 
for  the  kindly  services  of  the  Christian  and  Sanitary  Commissions, 


80  THE  OXE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

and  their  life-giving  supplies,  many  more  would  have  died,  and  a 
great  many  more  would  have  had  to  be  transported  to  northern 
hospitals.  The  steamer  John  Brooks,  chartered  by  the  Sanitary 
Commission,  was  constantly  employed,  plying  between  Harrison's 
Landing  and  Washington,  bringing  up  supplies,  the  value  of  which 
cannot  be  estimated.  The  paymaster  having  paid  us  a  visit, 
many  were  enabled  to  purchase  luxuries  that  the  close  proximity 
to  the  river  afforded  ample  means  to  bring  up,  by  the  sutlers,  and 
those  self-constituted  sutlers,  the  men,  as  many  members  of  the 
different  regiments  did  a  thriving  business  in  retailing  cakes, 
apples,  cheese,  lemons  and  lemonade.  New  clothing  was  issued 
and  the  many  necessary  things  that  were  lost,  destroyed,  or  worn- 
out  on  the  march  were  replenished. 

On  July  8th  we  were  reviewed  by  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
President  Lincoln,  accompanied  by  Generals  McClellan,  Sumner 
and  Sedgwick.  He  was  greatly  cheered  along  the  whole"  line.  On 
the  same  day,  General  Burns  left  for  Philadelphia  on  account  of 
his  wound,  and  Colonel  Baxter,  of  the  Seventy-Second  Regiment, 
assumed  command  of  the  brigade. 

Lieutenant  Wetzler,  of  Company  I,  accidentally  shot  himself 
in  the  leg  with  his  pistol  that  day.  The  ball  not  going  through 
had  to  be  extracted;  he  went  home  on  the  I2th,  and  was  soon 
after  discharged. 

On  the  9th,  four  companies  of  the  regiment  were  detailed  to 
build  breastworks,  and  remained  out  all  day. 

On  the  nth.  Captain  Theo.  J.  Fimple,  of  Company  K,  was  sent 
home  sick  and  did  not  return  again,  but  was  discharged  the  follow- 
ing January. 

On  the  22d  the  whole  corps  was  reviewed  by  General  Sumner 
about  7  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Brigades  were  formed  in  column 
of  regiments,  making  each  brigade  four  or  five  lines  deep,  accord- 
ing to  number  of  regiments,  about  twenty  paces  between  the  lines, 
the  artillery  drawn  up  in  the  rear ;  the  whole  line  extending  over 
a  mile.  As  General  Sumner  appeared,  a  salute  of  thirteen  guns 
was  fired  by  the  artillery ;  after  he  rode  down  the  line,  the  corps 
passed  in  review,  division  front,  and  all  returned  to  camp  in  time 
for  dinner.  Fortunately  there  was  a  good  breeze,  so  the  men  did 
not  suffer  with  the  heat. 


Corporal  John  S.   Dove. 
Aug.  lo,  1861.  Sept.  10,  1864. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal,  Dec.  30,  1863. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  1863. 

Mustered  out  with  Company.  Sept.  10,  1864. 


COMPANY  A. 


George  S.  Smith. 

Dec.  9,  t86i.  Oct.  20,  1862. 

Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  1862. 

Discharged,  Oct.  20,  T862.     Wounds. 


John  S.  Tur.nek. 

Dec.  9,  1861.  Nov.  20,  1863. 

Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  Nov.  20, 1863. 


82  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1S62 

CHAPTER  IX. 

TO    THE    RELIEF    OF    POPE. 

AS  Stated  in  the  previous  chapter  we  rested  at  Harrison's 
Landing.  Yet  we  knew  not  how  long  that  rest  would 
last ;  we  were  constantly  in  receipt  of  orders  to  move  and 
were  taken  out  on  reconnoissances ;  finally,  on  August  nth,  def- 
inite orders  were  issued  to  prepare  to  move  at  once,  but  we  did 
not  leave  until  August  i6th. 

Before  leaving  camp,  on  the  15th.  the  Regiment  was  drawn 
up  in  line  to  witness  the  execution  of  the  sentence  of  a  court- 
martial  upon  Private  John  Mansfield,  of  Company  B,  for  deser- 
tion, which  was  to  have  his  head  shaved,  be  drummed  out  of  the 
service,  branded  with  the  letter  "D",  and  sent  to  Fort  Wool,  op- 
posite Fort  Monroe,  to  serve  out  the  term  of  his  enlistment  at 
hard  labor,  to  forfeit  all  his  pay  and  bounties,  and  wear  a  twenty- 
four  pound  ball  attached  to  his  leg  by  a  three  and  a  half  foot  iron 
chain.  The  severity  of  this  sentence  ought  certainly  have  put 
a  stop  to  desertion,  as  it  must  be  far  more  preferable  to  do  the 
work  in  camp  than  the  work  of  a  convict,  even  with  the  risk  of 
one's  life  in  the  battles,  and  I  know  that  Mansfield  would  readily 
have  exchanged,  as  we  looked  upon  him,  marching  under  guard 
through  our  lines,  with  his  head  shaved,  after  having  his  sentence 
read  to  him  before  the  whole  command. 

At  half  past  five  in  the  afternoon  of  August  15th  the  Regiment 
broke  camp  and  started,  but  got  no  further  than  headquarters, 
as  the  road  was  filled  w'ith  wagons,  a  constant  string  moving 
steadily  all  day  and  night,  so  we  lay  down  where  we  were.  At  2 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  i6th,  another  efifort  was  made  to 
get  started,  but  still  no  use ;  at  five  the  men  were  up,  getting  their 
breakfast,  and  at  7  o'clock  the  line  was  again  formed,  but  it  was 
not  until  eight  that  they  got  started  for  Williamsburg  via  Charles 
City  Court  House.  Thus  were  we  fifteen  hours  getting  started ; 
it  seems  to  me  that  those  in  charge  of  our  part  of  this  movement 
should  have  known  that  considerable  time  would  have  been  con- 
sumed to  transport  that  large  supply  train,  and  have  left  us  in 
camp  until  the  morning  of  the  i6th.  and  not  taken  us  out  there 


1862]  TO   THE  RELIEF  OF  POPE  8il 

to  He  in  the  road  all  night.  The  road  was  very  dusty,  rising  in 
clouds  so  that  one  could  hardly  see  ten  yards  distant;  after  a 
march  of  about  twelve  miles,  a  halt  was  made  for  the  night,  about 
half  past  three  in  the  afternoon.  Leaving  camp  at  half  past  six 
the  next  morning  we  passed  Charles  City  Court  House  about 
9  o'clock;  there  a  halt  was  made  for  nearly  two  hours;  about  ii 
o'clock  started  again,  the  road  occupied  by  the  artillery  and 
wagons,  the  infantry  marching  through  the  fields  on  each  side, 
and  continued  so  until  about  lo  o'clock  at  night  when  they  arrived 
at  the  Chickahominy  River,  where  we  found  but  a  single  pontoon 
bridge  was  thrown  across,  over  which  the  entire  army  was  ex- 
pected to  cross,  and  were  still  crossing.  At  5  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing of  August  1 8th,  the  line  was  reformed  as  our  turn  had  come, 
and  at  half  past  five  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment  again 
crossed  the  Chickahomin}'  River.  Below  were  two  or  three 
gun-boats.  From  their  sides  bristled  the  guns  ready  to  open  their 
mouths  upon  the  enemy  that  should  interfere  with  our  crossing. 
After  crossing,  the  Regiment  was  marched  a  short  distance 
and  halted.  The  men  then  had  a  chance  to  wash  up.  At  11 
o'clock  made  another  move  of  about  five  miles  and  camped  for 
the  night ;  at  about  half-past  six  the  next  morning  left  camp  and 
arrived  at  Williamsburg  at  ten,  but  halted  for  about  two  hours 
outside  the  town,  and  at  12  o'clock  marched  through  the  town 
with  bands  playing  and  colors  flying;  then  through  the  fortifica- 
tions, still  in  good  state  of  preservation,  needing  only  the  guns  and 
men  to  make  them  strong  enough  to  resist  any  attack,  continuing 
on  through  the  woods  beyond,  which  still  plainly  told  of  the  fierce 
conflict  that  had  been  fought  in  them,  by  the  marks  upon  the  trees 
and  their  broken  limbs  and  trunks  cut  oflf  by  shot  and  shell, 
when  Hooker  fought  this  battle  and  carried  these  works.  About 
3  o'clock  we  halted  for  the  night,  having  marched  near  fifteen 
miles.  About  8  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  20th,  continued 
the  march  and  about  noon  arrived  in  sight  of  the  York  River,  a 
few  miles  above  Yorktown,  and  soon  after  camped  for  the  night. 
Soon  the  river  was  lined  with  men  washing  themselves  and  their 
clothes,  others  hunting  for  oysters  and  crabs,  which  were  found 
by  those  who  took  the  trouble  to  hunt  and  fish  for  them,  while 
others  made  free  with  some  young  "porkers"  found  near  the  camp, 


84  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

and  soon  the  old  hogs  had  to  go,  as  the  men  felt  in  need  of  a 
change  of  diet  from  crackers  and  coffee. 

Reveille  was  sounded  the  next  morning,  August  21st,  at  3 
o'clock,  but  line  was  not  formed  until  seven,  and  at  eight  started, 
and  in  an  hour  arrived  at  the  fortifications  around  Yorktown, 
passing  through  them  and  the  town  with  colors  flying  and  the 
band  again  playing;  then  through  the  fortifications  on  the  other 
side  and  continued  with  frequent  halts  until  about  4  o'clock,  when 
they  arrived  at  Big  Bethel,  where  a  halt  was  made  and  the  men 
directed  to  get  supper  and- what  rest  they  could  as  at  2  o'clock 
they  were  awakened  and  again  pressed  forward  rapidly,  and  about 
7  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  August  22d  arrived  at  the  forks  of 
the  Hampton  and  Newport  News  roads,  where  a  halt  was  made 
for  half  an  hour;  then  continued  and  arrived  at  Newport  News 
about  half-past  nine,  in  a  heavy  thunder  shower,  which  continued 
until  about  1 1  o'clock  and  were  camped  on  the  James  River,  about 
two  miles  from  Newport  News,  there  to  await  transportation  by 
two  boats,  which  Avere  daily  arriving  and  departing  with  their 
living  freight,  transporting  that  large  army  back  to  Alexandria 
and  vicinity. 

Our  turn  did  not  come  until  the  25th,  when,  about  7  o'clock, 
the  brigade  broke  camp  and  marched  to  the  wharf  at  Newport 
News  and  boarded  the  steamer  "Hero",  which  took  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth,  the  Sixty-Ninth  and  the  Seventy-Second 
Regiments  out  to  the  large  steamer  "Baltic",  of  the  Collins  Line, 
plying  between  New  York  and  Liverpool,  now  lying  out  in  the 
middle  of  the  stream  or  bay.  All  day  was  consumed  in  loading 
these  three  regiments  and  their  effects.  Remained  at  anchor 
during  the  night ;  at  5  o'clock  the  next  morning  steamed  away, 
having  in  tow  a  large  ship  named  "The  Planter,  of  New  York", 
loaded  with  cavalrymen  and  their  horses ;  rounding  Fort  Monroe 
and  up  the  bay,  with  other  steamers  ahead  and  behind  us,  loaded 
with  troops,  heading  the  same  way.  About  half  past  5  o'clock 
passed  Smith's  Point  and  entered  the  Potomac,  and  set  the  signal 
for  a  pilot,  none  coming  aboard,  anchored  for  the  night  about  9 
o'clock.  Pilot  came  aboard  about  3  o'clock,  but  it  was  about  six 
before  we  got  started  again,  and  about  noon  ran  aground,  and 
being  unable  to  get  off,  the  steamer  "Nellie  Baker",  which  was 


18G2]  TO    THE   RELIEF   OF  POPE  85 

coming-  down  the  river,  was  hailed  and  came  alongside  and  took 
off  our  Regiment,  and  continuing  up  the  river  landed  us  at  Aquia 
Creek.  We  were  far  more  comfortable  on  this  steamer,  as  we 
were  not  so  crowded ;  other  steamers  stopped  and  took  off  the 
other  regiments  and  continued  up  the  river  with  them.  We  were 
landed  at  Aquia  Creek  about  4  o'clock  and  marched  inland  for 
about  two  miles,  and  were  getting  ready  for  camp  when  we  were 
ordered  back  to  the  landing,  and  embarked  on  the  steamer  "City 
of  Norwich",  about  6  o'clock ;  here  we  found  General  O.  O. 
Howard,  who  had  been  assigned  to  the  command  of  our  brigade 
until  General  Burns  should  return.  He  had  sufficiently  recovered 
from  the  wound  received  at  Fair  Oaks,  which  cost  him  his  right 
arm. 

We  left  Aquia  Creek  about  7  o'clock  and  started  for  Alexandria, 
where  we  arrived  about  10  o'clock  at  night.  Disembarked  about 
5  o'clock  the  next  morning,  August  28th,  marched  through  the 
city  and  about  four  miles  beyond  on  the  road  to  Fairfax  Court 
House,  and  joined  the  brigade. 

The  next  day,  August  29th,  General  Halleck,  in  a  dispatch  to 
General  McClellan  said :  "I  think  you  had  better  place  Sumner's 
Corps,  as  it  arrives,  near  the  fortifications,  and  particularly  at 
Chain  Bridge."  In  compliance  therewith,  towards  dark  we  start- 
ed for  the  Chain  Bridge,  a  distance  of  twenty  miles,  marched  until 
midnight,  halted  and  lay  down  along  the  roadside.  The  next 
morning  arrived  at  Chain  Bridge,  and  the  men,  anticipating  a 
few  days'  rest,  and  being  near  the  river,  began  to  clean  up  body 
and  clothes,  but  before  night  received  orders  to  move  at  once,  and 
pushed  on  rapidly  to  Centreville  via  Fairfax,  to  join  Pope's  Army, 
where  we  arrived  at  10  o'clock  on  the  31st,  having  made  a  march 
of  about  forty  miles  with  only  a  few  hours'  rest  and  part  of  the 
time  in  a  heavy  rain-storm,  and  some  of  the  men  without  shoes ; 
continuing  towards  the  battlefield  of  Bull  Run,  near  where  Pope 
had  been  engaged,  but  did  not  arrive  there  in  time  to  participate 
in  the  decisive  part  of  that  engagement. 

While  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  lying  quietly  at  Harri- 
son's Landing  changes  were  being  made  at  Washington  and  with 
other  portions  of  our  army.  Major-General  Henry  W.  Halleck 
was  called  from  the  western  armv  and  made  Commander-in-Chief, 


86  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

with  headquarters  at  Washington,  and  assumed  command  of 
the  whole  army.  McDowell's  Corps  had  been  detached  from 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  with  the  Corps  of  Banks  and 
Fremont  was  formed  into  the  "Army  of  Mrginia".  and  Major- 
General  John  Pope,  also  from  the  west,  was  placed  in  command 
during  the  latter  part  of  June.  General  Fremont,  not  wishing  to 
serve  under  an  officer  inferior  in  rank,  asked  to  be  relieved,  and 
General  Sigel  was  placed  in  command  of  his  corps.  General 
Pope,  soon  after  assuming  command,  issued  an  address  which 
seemed  to  reflect  upon  the  commander  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  the  noble  army  he  commanded,  by  drawing  unjust 
comparisons  between  the  troops  of  the  west  and  those  of  the 
east,  stating  that  he  came  from  the  west,  where  "they  have  always 
seen  the  backs  of  their  enemies",  that  his  army  was  for  advance 
and  not  for  defence,  and  was  to  hear  no  more  of  "taking  strong 
positions  and  holding  them — of  lines  of  retreat  and  bases  of 
supplies",  etc.,  etc.,  and  announced  his  headquarters  in  the  saddle. 
Orders  were  also  issued  for  the  withdrawal  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  from  the  Peninsula,  and  sent  to  join  Pope,  and  Mc- 
Clellan  relieved  from  command.  In  the  meantime  President  Lin- 
coln had  issued  a  call  for  three  hundred  thousand  additional  men, 
for  nine  months'  service. 

Pope's  army  then  lay  at  Culpepper  Court  House  and  at  Fred- 
ericksburg, and  numbered  about  forty  thousand  men.  It  was 
against  this  army  that  the  Confederates,  about  August  ist,  began 
their  movement  which  led  to  the  Maryland  Campaign.  On  the 
8th,  Jackson  crossed  the  Rapidan  at  Raccoon  Ford ;  the  next  day 
attacked  part  of  the  forces  under  General  Banks  at  Cedar 
Mountain,  w^here  a  closely  contested  fight  was  fought,  and  was 
clearly  a  victory  for  Jackson,  but  both  sides  meeting  with  heavy 
loss.  Our  loss  is  reported  at  i66i  killed  and  wounded,  and  723 
missing,  total  2393.  Jackson  reports  1283  killed  and  wounded, 
and  31  missing,  total  13 14.  Jackson  then  pushed  around  Pope's 
right  flank  and  got  between  him  and  Washington.  Pope  thought 
he  had  Jackson  penned-up  and  cut  off  from  all  avenues  of  escape, 
when  Jackson  again  slipped  around  his  flank,  and  massed  his 
troops  near  Groveton,  then  turned  and  attacked  Pope  furiously 
on  August  29th ,  and  thus  began  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run. 


1862]  TO   THE  RELIEF   OF  POPE  87 

Pope  repulsed  each  assault  and  reinforced  his  lines  with  portions 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  as  fast  as  they  arrived  and  Jackson, 
reinforced  by  Longstreet,  continued  the  attack  until  dark. 

On  August  30th,  Pope  attempted  to  force  the  enemy's  left,  but 
as  soon  as  Jackson  learned  that  he  was  massing  his  troops  on  the 
right,  he  at  once  attacked  his  left  and  by  repeated  assaults  with 
his  infantry,  ably  assisted  by  his  artillery,  admirably  placed,  he 
gradually  forced  Pope  to  yield,  notwithstanding  he  was  being 
greatly  reinforced  by  McClellan's  army  as  fast  as  it  could  arrive, 
and  while  portions  of  his  line  remained  firm.  Pope  ordered  a  retreat 
which  soon  became  a  rout  and  his  whole  army  was  sent  flying 
back  towards  Washington,  and  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run 
not  only  proved  disastrous  to  Pope,  but  to  the  country,  and  very 
demoralizing  to  the  army. 

As  has  been  stated,  our  return  from  the  Peninsula  was  not  in 
time  for  us  to  participate  in  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Rmi,  but 
we  arrived  in  time  to  save  Pope's  Army  from  annihilation  or 
capture,  and  our  division,  after  their  forced  march  of  over  forty 
miles  in  about  fourteen  hours,  was  detailed  as  rear  guard.  General 
Sedgwick  still  in  command  of  the  Division,  and  Brigadier  General 
O.  O.  Howard  temporarily  in  command  of  our  Brigade.  On 
September  ist,  a  reconnoissance  was  made  by  the  Division  for 
about  three  miles.  Passing  through  McDowell's  Corps,  falling 
back  in  great  confusion,  General  Sedgwick  formed  the  whole 
Division  as  a  skirmish  line,  and  advanced  on  the  enemy ;  this 
movement  impressed  the  enemy  with  the  belief  that  a  large  force 
must  be  in  reserve  of  so  large  a  skirmish  line,  and  arrested  their 
onward  march,  and,  expecting  an  attack,  they  began  to  form  their 
lines  to  meet  it.  Sedgwick  thus  checked  their  advance  for  several 
hours,  which  was  of  vital  importance  to  our  army  on  the  retreat, 
and,  making  for  Maryland,  instead  of  attacking,  Sedgwick  with- 
drew to  Chantilly.  This  piece  of  strategy  won  for  him  and  his 
command  the  highest  praise.  He  then  continued  to  fall  back, 
and  again  was  our  brigade  the  rear  guard  of  the  whole  army,  as 
on  the  retreat  from  Richmond,  during  the  Seven  Days'  Fight. 
Being  closely  pressed  by  the  enemy,  who  at  every  point  attacked 
him,  he  again  formed  in  line  of  battle,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  to 
the  left  of  the  town  of  Fairfax  Court  House,  earlv  on  the  morn- 


88  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

ing  of  September  2d,  and  awaited  their  attack ;  no  demonstration, 
however,  was  made  until  just  as  our  brigade  was  leaving,  when 
they  threw  a  few  shells  into  our  ranks.  Sedgwick  continued  to 
fall  back  about  a  mile,  to  a  place  called  Flint  Hill,  when  the  enemy 
again  overtook  him  and  again  opened  with  their  artillery,  using 
not  only  shot  and  shell,  but  railroad  iron,  and  wounded  two  mem- 
bers of  our  Regiment.  It  was  necessary  to  save  time  as  well  as 
to  put  a  stop  to  these  repeated  attacks,  so  disposition  was  made  as 
though  he  intended  to  make  a  hasty  retreat,  and  sent  our  brigade 
quickly  to  the  rear ;  by  this,  they  were  drawn  into  an  ambush  pre- 
pared by  Colonel  Sully  with  his  Regiment,  the  First  Minnesota, 
and  they  came  so  close  to  that  line  that  their  commanding  officer 
inquired  of  our  men  "Who  are  you?"  Colonel  Sully  made  some 
evasive  answer  and  allowed  them  to  advance  within  twenty-five 
or  thirty  yards,  and  then  .commanded  '"Fire!"  His  men  being 
prepared,  this  volley  almost  annihilated  them.  What  were  not 
killed  or  wounded  went  flying  to  the  rear,  so  that  they  made  no 
further  attack  upon  our  line. 

It  was  now  dark  and  Sedgwick  pushed  on  rapidly  towards  the 
Chain  Bridge ;  arrived  at  Langley  about  midnight,  and  the  men. 
completely  worn-out.  lay  down  to  sleep,  then  about  half-past 
I  o'clock. 

While  on  the  march,  about  10  o'clock  that  night,  a  fearful  panic 
occurred  among  the  troops,  a  crashing  noise  was  heard  in  the  rear, 
then  the  rapid  tread  of  horses'  feet.  Some  one  yelled,  "Clear  the 
road",  and  several  horses  dashed  up  the  road  and  hundreds  of  men 
followed  them.  Some  one  injudiciously  fired  a  shot,  then  others 
began  to  fire  and  before  it  could  be  stopped  no  less  than  one  hun- 
dred shots  must  have  been  fired ;  no  one  knew  what  he  was  firing 
at,  and  hardly  who  did  fire — and  resulted  in  a  loss  of  eight  killed 
and  twenty  wounded  and  many  others  hurt  by  that  mad  rush  of 
horses  and  men — all  in  a  few  minutes.  It  appears  that  a  wagon 
broke  down  and  so  frightened  the  horses  that  they  became  unman- 
ageable and  ran  away  and  dashed  into  some  other  horses  and  they 
started  too,  their  dashing  up  the  road  in  the  darkness  impressed 
the  men  that  it  was  a  raid  of  rebel  cavalry,  and  they  became  panic- 
stricken  and  joined  in  the  rush,  which  was,  however,  soon  quieted 
down,  but  not  before  the  great  damage  mentioned  above  had  been 


1862]  TO   THE  RELIEF   OF  POPE  89 

done.  Next  morning  proceeded  to,  and  crossed  the  bridge,  thence 
to  Tenallytown,  and  encamped.  Pope's  campaign  was  ended, 
and,  notwithstanding  all  those  fine  phrases  in  his  orders,  his  army 
was  badly  beaten,  driven  back  with  heavy  loss,  with  "Headquart- 
ers still  in  the  saddle",  moving  rapidly  to  the  rear,  disgracefully 
scattered,  thousands  not  stopping  until  safe  within  the  entrench- 
ments around  Washington. 

While  lying  at  Harrison's  Landing,  the  writer  was  taken  very 
sick  with  the  scurvy,  and  when  the  movement  to  go  to  the  relief 
of  Pope  began,  was  unable  to  march  with  his  Regiment  for  the 
first  and  only  time  during  the  entire  three  years'  service,  and  was 
sent  by  the  Regimental  Surgeon,  Dr.  Dwindle,  with  the  rest  of 
the  sick  and  wounded  to  be  transported  by  boat  to  Fort  Monroe. 
Unfortunately,  some  bummers  had  managed  to  play  off  and  get 
on  the  same  boat.  Upon  our  arrival  at  Fort  Monroe  the  captain 
went  ashore  for  orders,  and  received  them,  to  take  us  to  New 
York  as  soon  as  rations  could  be  put  on  board ;  these  bummers 
had  managed  to  get  some  liquor  from  the  boat  hands,  and  while 
we  were  lying  there  got  drunk  and  began  fighting  among  them- 
selves, and  tumbling  over  those  too  sick  or  too  badly  wounded  to 
get  out  of  their  way.  Finally,  one  tumbled  overboard,  and  a  boat 
had  to  be  lowered  and  sent  for  him.  The  captain  reported  this 
condition  of  affairs  and  refused  to  take  his  vessel  to  sea  with  such 
men  aboard,  as  there  was  no  officer  there  to  enforce  discipline. 
We  were  then  ordered  back  to  Newport  News,  and  w'ere  placed 
in  the  hospitals  there,  instead  of  going  to  New  York ;  this  was  a 
sad  and  bitter  disappointment  to  those  helplessly  sick  or  wounded, 
who  expected  to  get  so  near  home  and  be  among  their  friends  so 
soon. 

In  a  few  days,  learning  that  his  Regiment  had  arrived  and  were 
embarking  on  transports,  he  applied  to  the  surgeon  in  charge 
for  permission  to  join  his  Regiment;  this  the  surgeon  refused 
to  grant,  as  he  was  not  sufficiently  recovered,  but  the  next  day 
he  took  the  responsibility  and  gathered  together  his  things  and  left 
the  hospital,  arriving  at  the  river  in  time  to  take  the  last  boat  to 
the  steamer  "Baltic"  on  which  were  the  Sixty-Ninth,  Seventy- 
Second  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiments,  and  reported 
to  the  colonel  for  duty,  telling  him  he  had  left  the  hospital  against 


90  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

the  orders  of  the  surgeon  in  charge.  Btit  on  the  night  march 
from  Alexandria  towards  the  Chain  Bridge,  he  fell  down  in  the 
ranks  from  weakness,  and  was  carried  to  one  side  of  the  road, 
made  comfortable  and  left  to  rest,  and  did  not  again  join  the 
Regiment  until  its  return  to  Fairfax  Court  House,  and  returned 
with  it  and  crossed  into  Maryland. 

An  amusing  illustration  of  what  soldiers  will  do  to  get  things 
to  eat  occurred  while  thus  temporarily  absent  from  the  Regiment : 
A  party  of  us  had  wended  our  way  along,  not  knowing  where 
we  were  going,  until  we  arrived  at  the  Chain  Bridge  crossing  the 
Potomac  River  to  Georgetown ;  the  guards  would  not  allow  us 
to  cross,  so  we  sought  a  shady  place  on  the  bank  of  the  river, 
where  we  left  our  things,  and,  after  taking  a  swim,  wandered 
around  to  see  if  we  could  get  any  information  of  the  Regiment  or 
any  other  news  and  something  to  eat.  We  met  one  of  the  many 
wagons  carrying  things  up  to  the  troops  garrisoning  the  forts  in 
that  neighborhood,  who  were  nine  months'  men,  just  from  home, 
and  were  blessed  with  the  means  to  purchase  what  to  us  veterans 
were  luxuries,  so  that  these  venders  were  able  to  do  quite  a  thriv- 
ing business.  The  man  hailed  us  and  asked  if  we  did  not  wish 
to  buy  some  cider ;  some  one  answered  yes,  though  not  one  of  us 
had  a  cent.  We  gathered  around  his  wagon.  He  got  down  and 
undid  the  back  of  his  wagon,  got  out  his  glasses,  filled  them,  and 
we  drank  it.  commenting  on  its  fine  flavor  and  good  cjuality  and 
decided  to  try  another  glass.  In  the  meantime,  one  of  the  party 
had  seen  a  box  in  the  wagon  and  had  managed  to  get  the  side 
curtain  loose,  and  succeeded  in  finding  a  bottle  of  whiskey  hidden 
in  the  straw  in  the  box,  and  was  stealthily  removing  it  when  dis- 
covered by  the  man ;  but  securing  his  prize  started  to  run  and  the 
man  after  him.  Away  they  went  on  a  full  run.  and  we  improved 
the  opportunity  of  continuing  to  ''sample  the  r/(/cr", "and  each  had 
about  as  much  as  he  wanted.  The  man,  finding  it  impossible  to  re- 
cover his  bottle  of  whiskey,  and  seeing  his  cider  fast  disappearing, 
concluded  to  return  to  his  wagon  and  save  the  rest  of  his  stock, but, 
by  the  time  he  got  back,  we  had  left.  A  little  while  elapsed  when 
another  wagon  came  over,  loaded  with  watermelons ;  this  was  a 
luxury  we  had  not  seen,  much  less  tasted,  for  a  long  while ;  the 
driver  was  also  anxious  to  sell  to  us,  and  we  were  just  as  anxious. 


1862]  TO   THE  RELIEF   OF  POPE  91 

to  purchase  of  him,  yet  we  had  nothing  to  purchase  with.  We 
got  up  on  the  back,  front  and  sides  of  his  wagon,  admired  his 
fruit,  priced  this  one  and  then  that  one.  and  when  his  attention 
was  attracted  to  one  side  some  one  on  the  opposite  side  would 
shp  out  a  melon.  He  soon  saw  his  melons  disappearing  and  he 
getting  no  pay,  and  having  a  new  wagon  of  which  he  was  very 
careful,  he  very  kindly  said  he  would  give  us  each  a  melon  if  we 
would  only  get  down  from  his  wagon,  which  ofifer  we  accepted 
after  we  each  got  the  melon  in  our  hands  ;  he  then  drove  off,  much 
less  in  stock,  and,  perhaps,  a  wiser  man.  We  were  now  in  for 
it ;  our  success  made  us  more  bold ;  we  hailed  the  next  man  our- 
selves, and  found  he  had  apples,  cookies,  crackers,  cheese  and 
cider.  W^e  purchased  some  of  each,  which  were  nicely  wrapped 
up  and  delivered,  and  he  demanded  his  pay,  we  told  him  he  would 
be  paid  at  our  next  pay  day ;  this  he  was  disposed  to  resent  and 
demanded  his  pay  or  return  of  the  goods,  but  not  being  able  to 
force  a  compliance  of  either  demand,  he  was  compelled  to  drive 
on. 

The  bridge  across  the  river  was  very  long,  and  at  about  one- 
third  of  the  way  were  stationed  guards  to  prevent  the  men  from 
this  side  crossing  over  into  Georgetown,  and  thence  to  Washing- 
ton, without  passes ;  they  had  seen  what  was  going  on  but  were 
unable  to  leave  their  posts  to  offer  any  protection  to  the  wagons, 
but  they  did  the  next  best  thing  they  could,  and  warned  the  men 
not  to  stop.  One  man  who  had  a  low,  open  wagon  stopped  in- 
side the  guard  and  tied  a  large  canvas  over  the  wagon,  and  then 
came  on.  By  this  time  our  party  had  got  down  on  the  bridge, 
half  way  to  the  guard ;  as  that  man  came  along  we  hailed  him, 
but  he  refused  to  stop ;  all  hands  made  a  rush  for  his  wagon, 
jumping  on  behind,  trying  to  undo  the  canvas  ;  the  man  then  stood 
up  with  lines  in  one  hand  and  whip  in  the  other,  and  cut  alternate- 
ly at  the  horse  and  then  back  at  those  behind.  The  boys  had 
succeeded  in  getting  the  canvas  partly  undone,  and  got  hold  of 
a  barrel  of  apples,  but  a  sudden  jolt  of  the  wagon  threw  them  off, 
and  the  barrel  with  them ;  the  top  being  out,  the  apples  flew  in 
every  direction ;  the  man  drove  on  without  any  further  molesta- 
tion, glad,  I  suppose,  to  get  away,  as  he  made  no  effort  to  regain 
his    apples.     While    the    boys    were    helping   themselves    to    the 


92  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

apples,  some  one  spied  a  company  of  soldiers  coming-  towards  the 
bridge.  Those  men  who  had  first  suffered  had  reported  their 
misfortune  to  the  troops  at  the  camps  above,  and  a  guard  was 
detailed  to  come  down  and  arrest  the  amateur  highwaymen;  and 
down  they  came  at  double-quick,  with  bayonets  fixed,  and  were 
nearer  the  end  of  the  bridge  than  those  on  the  bridge,  so  there 
was  no  chance  of  getting  away  that  way,  and  the  other  guards 
would  not  allow  us  to  go  the  other  way,  so  we  were  in  a  trap.  But 
old  soldiers  were  not  so  easily  caught,  and  over  the  sides  of  the 
bridge  we  went  like  so  many  rats,  notwithstanding  that  that  por- 
tion of  the  bridge  was  about  twenty  feet  above  the  river  bank, 
so  that  by  the  time  the  guards  met  not  one  of  us  was  there.  One 
was  unfortunate  enough  to  fall  into  the  river,  but  being  a  good 
swimmer,  he  swam  around  the  other  side  of  the  pier  and  hid 
until  the  guards  left.  Two  others,  instead  of  running  as  soon  as 
they  struck  the  ground,  undressed  under  the  bridge  and  went 
into  swim,  and  when  the  guards  came  around  and  under  the  bridge 
they  were  enjoying  a  good  bath,  and  when  questioned  as  to  what 
occurred  above,  or  if  they  had  seen  the  men  that  jumped  from 
the  bridge  they  said  they  knew  nothing  about  it,  except  that  they 
saw  the  men  jumping  down  and  run  down  the  river  bank ;  so  down 
went  the  guards.  On  reaching  the  point  where  I  was  sitting  with 
our  knapsacks  and  equipments,  as  I  had  succeeded  in  getting 
there  before  them,  the  officer  questioned  me  very  closely ;  but, 
denying  all  knowledge  of  anything  connected  with  the  affair,  I 
stated  that  I  was  too  sick  to  march  with  my  Regiment,  and  had 
been  sent  back  to  await  their  return,  and  that  the  things  I  was 
minding  belonged  to  those  who  were  in  swimming.  But  my  thin, 
pale  face  did  more  than  anything  I  could  say,  and  gave  force  to 
my  words — they  believed  what  I  said,  and  they  went  on  in  search 
of  the  marauders.  Had  they  but  lifted  the  gum  blanket  covering 
part  of  our  things,  a  tell-tale  watermelon,  a  few  apples  and  cakes, 
left  there  b}^  my  companions,  would  have  convicted  me  as  the 
receiver  of  stolen  property,  if  not  a  participant  in  the  actual  steal- 
ing. We  did  not  think  it  safe  to  stay  there  any  longer  so  soon 
packed  up  and  left  as  soon  as  possible  and,  marching  out  to  the 
Fairfax  Court  House,  rejoined  the  Regiment  on  its  return  from 
Centerville. 


Captain  Paul  J.  Hallowell. 
Aug.  28,  1861.  Jan.  4,  1863. 

As  First  Lieutenant  of  Company  H. 

Promoted  to  Captain,  Company  B,  July  17,  1862. 

Discharged,  Jan.  4,  1863. 

COMPANY  B. 


5ERGEANT    AluN/u    C.    .SlUANK. 

8,  1861.  July  I,  1863. 

ided  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  1862. 
d  to  Veteran   Reserve  Corps,  July  i,  18 


Henry  Vaughan. 
Aug.  28,  1861.  June  30,  181 

Re-enlisted,  Dec.  29,  1863.     Veteran. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  H,  June  30,  18 


1862]  ANTIETAM  93 


CHAPTER    X. 

ANTIETAM. 

WE  are  back  again  in  Maryland,  returned  with  sad  hearts,  sad 
at  giving  up  so  much  ground,  gained  by  the  sacrifice  of 
so  many  noble  lives,  sad  for  the  many  we  had  left  behind 
with  the  unnumbered  dead,  who  had  given  their  lives  for  their 
country,  and  sad  for  the  many  sent  on  before,  crippled  with 
wounds  or  weakened  by  disease,  many  of  whom  never  resumed 
their  places  in  our  ranks.  Sad,  that  with  all  the  privations,  trials 
and  conflicts  through  which  we  had  passed,  and  with  all  that  vast 
expenditure  of  life  and  resources,  that  we  were  no  nearer  our 
objective  point  "Richmond".  Nothing  had  been  gained;  it  will 
all  have  to  be  gone  over  again. 

It  was  now  necessary  that  some  additional  changes  in  the  army 
should  take  place.  The  withdrawal  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
from  the  Peninsula  placed  it  in  the  department  of  General  Pope, 
and  McClellan  was  without  a  command.  The  disastrous  defeat 
of  Pope's  army  and  the  advance  of  the  enemy  towards  the  National 
Capital  rendered  it  necessary  and  important  that  a  large  and 
effective  force  should  be  at  once  concentrated  in  Maryland  to 
resist  the  rebel  invasion  and  drive  them  from  our  shores.  All 
confidence  in  General  Pope  was  gone  and  he  was  relieved  from 
the  command  of  that  army  by  the  following  order : 

Washington,  D.  C,  September  5,  1862. 
Major-General  Pope,  Arlington. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  Virginia  being  consolidated,  you 
will  report  for  orders  to  the  Secretary  of  War. 

Henry  W.  Halleck, 

General-in-Chief. 

General  McClellan  had  told  General  Halleck  that  he  had  learned 
that  things  were  not  very  satisfactory  at  the  front  and  urged  him 
to  go  and  see  for  himself,  but  General  Halleck  declined,  and  sent 


94  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

his  Adjutant-General,  Colonel  Kelton.  The  next  morning.  Colonel 
Kelton  returned  and  reported  that  the  conditions  were  much 
worse  than  reported  by  General  McClellan,  that  the  army  was  de- 
moralized and  falling  back ;  that  he  saw  at  least  30,000  stragglers 
on  the  road. 

President  Lincoln,  realizing  the  affection  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  for  their  former  commander,  "Little  Mac",  and  that  their 
confidence  in  him  would  better  enable  him  to  overcome  the  de- 
moralizing effects  of  the  defeat  of  the  "Army  of  V'irginia"  and 
accomplish  what  was  now  required  of  the  whole  army  now  de- 
fending Washington,  he  and  General  Halleck  went  at  once  to 
General  McClellan's  house,  while  he  was  at  breakfast,  and  directed 
him  to  at  once  assume  command  of  the  army,  and  without  waiting 
for  any  preliminaries  he  did  so  and  took  immediate  steps  to  arrest 
the  retreat,  and  the  following  order  was  issued : 

Washington,  September  2d,  1862. 
General  Order  No.  122. 

Major-General  McClellan  will  have  command  of  the  fortifica- 
tions of  Washington,  and  of  all  troops  for  the  defence  of  the 
capital. 

By  connnand  of  M.vjor-General  Halleck. 

E.  D.  TowNSEND,  A.  A.  G. 

But  no  order  was  ever  issued  definitely  settling  McClellan's 
command  and  when  he  made  inquiries  as  to  the  commander  of 
the  active  column,  he  was  told  that  that  commander  had  not  been 
decided  upon,  and  it  never  was,  until  he  was  afterwards  relieved. 
But  McClellan,  realizing  the  importance  of  the  active  column 
having  its  commander  on  the  spot,  decided  the  question  himself 
by  leaving  Washington  on  September  8th,  and  joining  the  active 
command,  and  changing  the  heading  of  his  orders  from  "Head- 
quarters Defences  of  Washington",  to  "Headquarters  Army  of 
the  Potomac". 

There  is  no  denying,  btit  that  this  order  gave  almost  universal 
satisfaction  to  both  officers  and  men  of  the  army,  no  matter  what 
may  have  been  the  opinions  of  the  politicians  and  some  others  in 
and  around  Washington,  and  a  few  officers  anxious  to  be  advanc- 
ed by  his  removal.  The  men  only  knew  that  "Little  Mac"  was 
agfain  in  command  and  were  satisfied. 


1862]  ANTIETAM  95 

The  work  of  reorganizing  the  army  began  at  once,  even  while 
on  the  march.  General  Sumner  in  addition  to  retaining  command 
of  the  Second  Corps,  had  the  Twelfth  Corps,  Banks'  old  command, 
now  commanded  by  the  veteran  General  Mansfield,  under  his  con- 
trol and  formed  the  center,  and  General  Banks  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  fortifications  of  Washington,  which  now  included 
the  Third  Corps,  General  Heintzelman,  Fifth  Corps,  General 
Porter,  and  the  Eleventh  Corps,  General  Sigel,  making  about 
70,000  men.  Hooker  was  promoted  to  the  command  of  the  First 
Corps,  McDowell's,  and  the  Ninth,  Burnside's  Corps,  was  placed 
under  General  Reno,  these  two  corps  forming  the  right  wing 
under  General  Burnside,  and  the  Sixth  Corps  and  Couch's  divi- 
sion of  the  Fourth  Corps,  under  General  Franklin,  formed  the 
left  wing ;  this  completed  the  infantry  force.  The  cavalry  was 
placed  under  the  command  of  General  Alfred  Pleasanton,  and 
General  H.  J.  Hunt  commanded  the  reserve  artillery.  This  made 
an  efifective  force  of  all  arms  of  about  87,000  men,  and  was  moved 
on  to  Frederick  as  follows :  Franklin  via  Darnestown.  Dawson- 
ville,  Barnsville  and  Buckeystown  on  the  left ;  Sumner  in  the 
center  by  way  of  Rockville.  Clarkesburg,  Hyattsville  and  Ur- 
bana :  and  Burnside  on  the  right  via  Brookville,  Cooksville  and 
Ridgeville,  our  left  flank  resting  on  the  Potomac  river  and  the 
right  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  thus  covering  the  cities 
of  Baltimore  and  Washington. 

Colonel  Banes  says : 

The  Philadelphia  Brigade  remained  under  the  connnand  of 
General  O.  O.  Howard  during  the  continued  absence  of  General 
Burns.  All  of  the  regiments  had  received  additions  to  their 
effective  strength  by  the  return  of  officers  and  men  who  were  con- 
valescent from  wovmds  or  sickness. 

The  brigade  was  in  good  condition,  and,  although  numerically 
weaker,  compared  with  the  roster  at  the  time  of  landing  on  the 
Peninsula,  it  had  increased  its  effectiveness  by  the  rough  ex- 
periences of  war. 

Upon  our  arrival  in  our  camp  at  Tenallytown  on  the  Washing- 
ton and  Frederick  turnpike.  General  Howard  rode  to  each  regi- 
ment of  the  brigade  and  addressed  them.  He  spoke  very  highly 
of  their  conduct  during  that  campaign,  and  how  well  they  stood 


96  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

that  long  and  tedious  march ;  that  the  brigade  had  been  highly 
complimented  by  Generals  McClellan  and  Burns,  and  he  himself 
was  very  much  pleased  with  them,  and  unless  called  suddenly 
away,  we  would  remain  there  for  some  time  and  rest,  draw  our 
pay,  new  clothes,  with  plenty  of  rations,  and  when  we  did  go, 
would  go  as  new  men;  then  told  us  to  remember  that  we  were 
among  friends,  and  not  in  Virginia,  and  must  respect  the  property 
and  rights  of  the  citizens.  At  the  close  of  his  address  he  was 
loudly  cheered. 

We  were  not,  however,  to  remain  long  at  our  camp  at  Tenally- 
town,  as  Lee's  invasion  of  Maryland,  and  marching  northward, 
compelled  us  to  join  the  rest  of  the  army  pursuing  him,  and  at 
4  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  September  5th  we  left  camp  and 
marched  about  ten  miles,  and  camped  within  one  mile  of  Rock- 
ville.  The  next  day  we  passed  through  Rockville  and  two  miles 
beyond  and  camped.  On  the  8th  the  Regiment  went  out  on 
picket,  relieving  the  34th  New  York,  returning  on  the  9th,  and  re- 
ceived a  visit  from  Lieutenant-Colonel  Curry,  who  had  been  ex- 
changed on  parole.  He  was  warmly  received  by  officers  and 
men.  He  remained  until  we  left  camp,  and  returned  to  Washing- 
ton. We  marched  about  seven  miles  that  day,  and  four  miles 
further  on  the  loth. 

On  the  nth,  we  left  camp  about  6  o'clock,  passing  through 
Clarksburg ;  pushed  on  to  Hyattsville,  about  nine  miles,  meeting 
there  the  outpost  of  the  enemy ;  line  of  battle  was  formed,  the 
Seventy-First  Pennsylvania  was  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and 
advanced  to  the  woods  in  our  front.  Our  artillery  opened,  and 
shelled  the  woods,  the  line  was  then  advanced,  and  dislodged 
them ;  but  the  skirmishing  was  kept  up  all  night,  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth  Regiment  supporting  the  battery.  On  the  12th,  ad- 
vanced about  seven  miles,  passing  the  camp  occupied  by  the  enemy 
the  night  previous.  Our  whole  march  that  day  was  through  the 
fields,  fresh  plowed  ground  and  meadow,  through  corn-fields 
and  woods,  the  road  being  occupied  by  the  artillery  and  cavalry. 
We  camped  for  the  night  near  LTrbana.  On  the  13th,  we  passed 
through  Urbana  and  soon  afterwards  the  city  of  Frederick.  Here 
we  met  with  a  royal  and  patriotic  welcome,  the  whole  population 
turning  out  to  cheer  us  on  our  way,  men  giving  ice-water  and 


1862]  ANTIETAM  97 

milk  to  all  who  were  thirsty,  and  the  women  and  children  supply- 
ing us  with  pies,  cakes  and  bread,  waving  their  handkerchiefs 
and  flags  as  we  passed ;  all  manifesting  the  greatest  joy  on  their 
release  from  the  presence  of  the  enemy.  We  went  into  camp  one 
mile  from  the  city.  General  McClellan  passed  us  while  on  the 
march,  and  as  usual  was  received  with  cheers  along  the  whole 
line,  and  upon  his  entrance  into  Frederick  the  people  were  almost 
Wild ;  they  blocked  the  streets,  almost  covering  him  and  his  horse 
with  flags,  as  many  as  could  shaking  him  by  the  hand,  and  all 
cheering  him  as  long  as  he  was  in  sight. 

No  doubt  this  was  the  welcome  and  enthusiasm  General  Lee 
expected  to  receive  himself  when  he  issued  the  following  stirring 
appeal : 

Head  Quarters  Army  of  Northern  Virginia, 
near  Frederickstown,  September  8th,  1862. 

To  THE  People  of  Maryland  : 

It  is  right  that  you  should  know  the  purpose  that  has  brought 
the  army  under  my  command  within  the  Hmits  of  your  state,  so 
far  as  that  purpose  concerns  yourselves  : 

The  people  of  the  Confederate  states  have  long  watched,  with 
deepest  sympathy,  the  wrongs  and  outrages  that  have  been  in- 
flicted upon  the  citizens  of  a  commonwealth  allied  to  the  states  of 
the  South  by  the  strongest  social,  political  and  commercial  ties. 

They  have  seen,  with  profound  indignation,  their  sister  state  de- 
prived of  every  right,  and  reduced  to  the  condition  of  a  conquered 
province. 

Under  the  pretense  of  supporting  the  Constitution,  but  in  viola- 
tion of  its  most  valuable  provisions,  your  citizens  have  been  arrest- 
ed and  imprisoned  upon  no  charge,  and  contrary  to  all  forms  of 
law;  the  faithful  and  manly  protest  against  this  outrage,  made 
by  the  venerable  and  illustrious  Marylander,  to  whom  in  better 
days  no  citizen  appealed  for  right  in  vain,  was  treated  with  scorn 
and  contempt ;  the  Government  of  your  chief  city  has  been  usurped 
by  armed  strangers ;  your  Legislature  has  been  dissolved  by  the 
imlawful  arrest  of  its  members ;  freedom  of  the  press  and  of 
speech  has  been  suppressed ;  words  have  been  declared  ofifences  by 
an  arbitrary  decree  of  the  Federal  Executive,  and  citizens  ordered 
to  be  tried  by  a  military  commission  for  what  they  may  dare  to 
speak. 

Believing  that  the  people  of  Maryland  possessed  a  spirit  too 
lofty  to  submit  to  such  govenment,  the  people  of  the  South  have 
long  wished  to  aid  you  in  throwing  ofif  this  foreign  yoke,  to  enable 


98  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

you  again  to  enjoy  the  inalienable  rights  of  freemen,  and  restore 
independence  and  sovereignty  to  your  state. 

In  obedience  to  this  wish  our  army  has  come  among  you,  and  is 
prepared  to  assist  you  with  the  power  of  its  arms  in  regaining  the 
rights  of  which  you  have  been  despoiled. 

This,  citizens  of  Maryland,  is  our  mission,  so  far  as  you  are 
concerned. 

No  restraint  upon  your  free-will  is  intended;  no  intimidation 
will  be  allowed. 

Within  the  limits  of  this  army  at  least,  Marylanders  shall  once 
more  enjoy  their  ancient  freedom  of  thought  and  speech. 

We  know  no  enemies  among  you,  and  will  protect  all,  of  every 
opinion. 

It  is  for  you  to  decide  your  destiny,  freely  and  without  con- 
straint. 

This  army  will  respect  your  choice  whatever  it  may  be,  and  while 
the  Southern  people  will  rejoice  to  welcome  you  to  your  natural 
position  among  them,  they  will  only  welcome  you  when  you  come 
of  your  own  free-will. 

R.  E.  Lee, 
General  commanding. 

This  was  certainly  a  very  manly  appeal,  looking  from  their  side. 
yet  it  had  very  little  effect ;  there  was  no  enthusiastic  reception 
given  them,  nor  any  record  of  any  material  aid  ftirnished,  either 
of  men  or  resources. 

General  Lee  had  organized  his  army  into  two  columns:  the  right, 
commanded  by  General  James  Longstreet,  contained  the  divisions 
of  Lafayette  McLaws,  R.  H.  Anderson,  D.  R.  Jones,  J.  G.  Walker 
and  J.  B.  Hood ;  the  left,  commanded  by  General  Thomas  J.  Jack- 
son (Stonewall  Jackson)  contained  the  divisions  of  D.  H.  Hill, 
A.  P.  Hill,  J.  R.  Jones  and  A.  R.  Lawton.  The  cavalry  was 
under  General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  and  the  artillery  under  General  W. 
N.  Pendleton,  altogether  numbering  about  60,000  men. 

On  the  14th,  left  camp  early,  but  did  not  gain  much  headway 
for  awhile,  as  we  went  some  distance  on  the  wrong  road,  and  had 
to  turn  back  almost  to  our  starting  point.  We  could  distinctly 
hear  the  cannonading  in  the  direction  of  South  Mountain,  and 
this  had  the  usual  effect  upon  our  brave  commander  Sumner,  who 
became  very  restless,  and  he  urged  us  rapidly  forward ;  and  as 
we  wended  our  way  up  over  the  high  Catoctin  Mountain  we  could 


1862]  ANTIETAM  99 

see  the  shelling,  and  hear  the  volleys  of  musketry ;  see  the  differ- 
ent bodies  of  troops  moving  along  the  roads ;  but  it  was  about 
dark  as  we  wound  our  way  down  into  the  Middletown  Valley,  and 
soon  after  went  into  camp,  having  marched  about  sixteen  miles. 
We  were  not  left  to  rest  long,  as  at  midnight  the  assembly  called 
us  to  arms.  After  a  hasty  preparation,  we  moved  forward  rapidly 
for  about  six  miles  through  the  fields,  fording  a  small  stream 
about  one  and  a  half  feet  deep,  and  rested  about  3  o'clock  at  a 
point  near  Fox's  Gap. 

As  soon  as  it  was  daylight,  we  found  that  where  we  lay  had 
been  contested  ground.  In  an  adjoining  field  were  about  400 
prisoners,  that  had  been  captured  the  day  before,  encamped  under 
guard.  We  moved  on  about  two  miles,  and  again  rested  on  the 
battlefield  of  the  previous  day.  The  large  number  of  the  enemy's 
dead  that  lay  all  over  the  field  told  how  hotly  contested  the  fight 
had  been  at  that  point,  and  their  heavy  loss.  A  surgeon  and  five 
men  came  in  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  obtain  the  bodies  of  General 
Garland  and  two  colonels,  who  were  killed  and  left  within  our 
lines. 

The  battle  of  South  Mountain,  or,  as  designated  by  the  Con- 
federates, the  battle  of  Boonsboro,  was  fought  by  the  troops  under 
Reno  and  Hooker  at  Fox's  and  Turner's  Gaps,  and  by  Slocum  at 
Crampton's  Gap,  about  five  miles  further  south,  all  of  which  the 
enemy  defended.  His  object  being  to  delay  the  advance  of  our 
army  that  he  might  protect  his  wagontrainandunitehisarmy,  part 
of  which  under  Longstreet  was  at  Hagerstown  and  part  under  Jack- 
son was  encompassing  Harper's  Ferry  with  a  view  to  its  capture, 
which  he  accomplished,  owing  to  the  cowardice  of  the  officer 
commanding  there,  Colonel  Dixon  S.  Miles,  who,  without  making 
an}^  effort  to  hold  it  or  extricate  his  troops,  surrendered  it  with  over 
twelve  thousand  men  and  artillery  and  munitions  of  war.  Reno 
began  the  fight  at  South  Mountain  early  in  the  morning  by  an 
attack  on  Fox's  Gap,  and  Hooker  on  the  right  in  the  afternoon, 
at  Turner's  Gap,  both  continuing  it  until  after  dark.  Our  men 
had  to  attack  Hill's  Division  in  their  well-selected  position  at  those 
gaps,  charge  up  the  mountain  side,  and  fight  their  way  from  posi- 
tion to  position,  until  they  finally  by  a  successful  flank  movement 
by  Meade  on  the  right,  drove  them  from  the  mountain,  notwith- 


100  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

standing  that  Hill  had  been  strongly  reinforced  by  Longstreet, 
who  had  turned  back  from  Hagerstown,  and  Slocum  by  a  gallant 
charge  drove  back  Cobb  and  Semmes  from  their  position  at 
Crampton's  Gap  and  swept  over  the  mountain,  capturing  400 
prisoners,  four  colors  and  one  gun,  and  the  battle  of  South  Moun- 
tain was  won,  and  a  victory  for  us.  But  General  Lee  had  accom- 
plished his  object,  and  delayed  our  army  long  enough  to  extricate 
his  wagon  trains  from  their  perilous  position,  and  enabled  Jackson 
to  capture  Harper's  Ferry,  and  join  Lee  in  time  to  fight  at  Antie- 
tam.  Our  loss  was  very  heavy  amounting  to  2,511  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing,  including  the  death  of  General  Jesse  L. 
Reno.  Their  loss  was  equally  heavy,  including  General  Garland 
and  Colonels  Gayle  and  Strange  killed,  and  about  1,500  prisoners, 
a  total  of  little  over  3,000.  Our  loss  at  Harper's  Ferry  was : 
killed  44,  wounded  173,  prisoners  12,520,  total  12,737. 

Continuing  our  march  over  the  mountain,  we  passed  through 
Boonsboro,  about  3  o'clock,  receiving  the  same  generous  hospi- 
tality that  was  accorded  us  at  Frederick.  About  5  o'clock  we 
halted  in  a  wood  and  rested  until  dark ;  then  continued  and  passed 
through  Keedysville,  and  went  into  camp  about  two  miles  further 
on,  having  marched  about  thirteen  miles.  At  intervals  during 
the  day  additional  squads  of  prisoners  were  taken  past  us  to  the 
rear. 

On  the  i6th,  shortly  after  daylight,  while  lying  in  camp,  the 
enemy  opened  on  us  with  their  artillery  from  their  lines  on  the 
Antietam  Creek,  and  for  a  little  while  poured  shot  and  shell  into 
us  pretty  lively,  killing  one  man  and  wounding  four  others.  Our 
batteries  soon  replied,  and  silenced  them.  We  made  no  movement 
that  day,  but  were  ordered  to  pack  everything  in  our  knapsacks  so 
as  to  leave  them  behind,  and  in  the  evening  each  man  received 
eighty  rounds  of  ammunition.  In  the  afternoon  Hooker  crossed 
with  his  corps,  over  the  Antietam  Creek,  drove  in  the  enemy's 
advanced  line  and  secured  a  good  position. 

At  6  o'clock  on  Wednesday  morning,  September  17th,  we  began 
our  movement  towards  that  part  of  Maryland  destined  to  be  long 
remembered  as  the  ground  on  which  one  of  the  hardest  fought 
battles  of  the  war  took  place.  It  was  a  beautiful  bright  day  that 
was  to  witness  so  fierce  a  combat.     Leaving  our  knapsacks  and 


1862]  ANTIETAM  101 

everything  that  would  be  Hkely  to  interfere  with  rapid  movement, 
the  command  started  in  Hght  marching  order. 

The  cannonading  began  at  davHght.  as  Hooked  began  to  advance 
his  corps  from  the  position  he  had  attained  the  night  before  and 
attacked  the  enemy's  left  under  Hood,  and  step  by  step  his  three 
divisions,  under  Doubleday,  Meade  and  Ricketts,  drove  Hood  from 
the  east  wood,  through  a  field  of  standing  corn,  across  the 
Hagfrstown  pike,  when  Hood  was  reinforced  by  D.  H.  Hill,  and 
stopped  Hooker's  advance  and  finally  drove  him  back  through 
that  cornfield  and  to  the  right.  Hooker,  seeing  the  guns  of  his 
pursuers  glistening  through  the  standing  corn  directed  all  of 
his  batteries  that  could  bring  their  guns  to  bear  upon  that  field 
to  open  fire  upon  it ;  the  slaughter  was  fearful.  We  quote  Hook- 
er's own  words  describing  the  result  of  that  fire,  "Every  stalk 
of  corn  in  the  greater  part  of  that  field  was  cut  as  closely  as  could 
be  done  with  a  knife,  and  the  slain  lay  in  rows  precisely  as  they 
stood  in  their  ranks  a  few  minutes  before.  It  was  never  my  for- 
tune to  witness  a  more  dismal  battlefield".  It  was  then  that 
Mansfield's  Corps,  sent  to  Hooker's  assistance  by  General  Sumner 
arrived  upon  the  field,  but  before  he  had  time  to  get  his  troops 
engaged.  General  Mansfield  fell  mortally  wounded.  General 
Williams  succeeded  him  in  command,  and  he  pressed  forward  to- 
wards the  Dunker  Church,  slowly  gaining  ground,  but  meeting 
with  heavy  loss.  When  Edrly  emerged  from  the  wood  west  of 
the  Hagerstown  road,  he  threw  his  whole  force  upon  Williams, 
driving  him  back.  He  had  no  support.  Hooker  was  badly 
wounded,  and  Meade  placed  in  command  of  his  corps  and  with- 
drew it  from  the  field.  Williams  was  fast  losing  the  ground 
gained,  when  General  Sumner  arrived  with  his  corps,  having 
waded  the  Antietam  at  the  same  ford,  near  Fry's  Mills,  at  which 
a  portion  of  Hooker's  Corps  had  crossed  the  night  before,  at 
one  of  the  four  bridges  that  cross  the  Antietam  near  Keedysville. 
The  water  was  over  knee  deep,  running  swiftly,  and  it  was  with 
difficulty  that  the  men  kept  part  of  their  ammunition  dry,  as  many 
carried  about  half  of  it  in  their  pockets. 

Our  Division  was  commanded  by  General  Sedgwick,  who  had 
just  been  promoted  and  tendered  the  command  of  the  Twelfth 
Corps,  but  he  preferred  to  remain  with  and  fight  his  old  division 


102  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

once  more,  and  was  on  the  advance  or  right  of  the  corps ;  Third 
Division  under  French  next,  and  the  First  Division  under  Richard- 
son on  the  left.  Our  Brigade,  still  commanded  by  General  Howard, 
was  on  the  right  as  we  moved  in  three  lines  and  crossed  the  creek. 
When  all  were  across,  the  line  was  halted  and  then  faced  to  the 
left.  This  brought  the  division  in  three  lines  of  battle  with  the 
First  Brigade  under  General  Gorman  in  the  first  line,  followed  by 
the  Third  Brigade  under  General  Dana,  and  our  brigade  forming 
the  third  line,  the  Seventy-First  Regiment  on  the  right  with  the 
One  Hundred  and  Sixth  on  their  left,  then  the  Sixty-Ninth  and 
the  Seventy-Second,  the  left  of  the  line.  For  nearly  a  mile,  almost 
due  west,  our  line  advanced  through  woods  and  fields,  over  fences 
and  through  a  barn  yard,  all  of  which  tended  greatly  to  break  the 
line  and  cause  more  or  less  confusion,  but  they  closed  up  prompt- 
ly and  continued  to  advance  now  southwesterly,  over  the  ground 
gained  and  lost  by  Hooker  and  Mansfield.  Emerging  from  the 
east  woods  east  of  the  road  into  that  famous  cornfield,  thence 
obliquely  over  the  Hagerstown  turnpike,  subjected  to  a  terrible 
artillery  fire,  being  all  the  time  greatly  encouraged  by  the  brave 
Howard,  who  rode  behind  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment, 
speaking  quietly  to  the  men  of  his  brigade,  saying:  "Steady  men, 
don't  hurry"  ;  "Get  over  the  fence  carefully" ;  "Be  careful  of  your 
guns ;"  "Keep  the  muzzles  well  up ;"  "Don't  hurt  any  one  with 
your  bayonets".  . .  .Stubbornly  and  solidly  did  we  push  our  way 
over  the  ground  now  covered  with  the  dead  and  wounded  of  both 
armies,  General  Howard  again  urging  vis  to  keep  steady,  and  "be 
careful  not  to  step  on  those  poor  men",  meaning  the  wounded. 
A  correspondent  of  a  New  York  paper,  who  had  gotten  well 
up  front  in  the  east  wood,  where  he  had  an  excellent  view  of 
the  whole  of  that  part  of  this  battlefield,  thus  graphically  describes 
Sedgwick's  Division  going  into  action. 

As  it's  head  rode  the  grim  and  dauntless  old  Sumner  with  his 
staff  and  small  cavalry  escort.  There  too,  was  the  intrepid  "Uncle 
John"  Sedgwick,  ahout  to  lead  his  column  of  hope,  the  hitherto 
unbeaten  "Second  Division"  into  battle  to  retrieve  the  awful 
mishap  to  Hooker.  All  were  "full  of  ginger",  undaunted  by  the 
all  pervading  evidence  of  rout. 

The  battles  lines  fully  deployed.  They  are  pressing  steadily  for- 
ward,  gay   with   flaunting  colors,   glorious   with   resolute   purpose. 


1^ 


iri 


1862]  ANTIETAM  103 

stimulating  cheers,  and  encouraging  shouts.  The  first  Hne  swung 
by  in  stately  style,  slightly  curved,  with  a  convex  front  to  the 
enemy.  There  was  another  line  that  moved  past  with  a  twisting 
formation.  And  yet  another*  line  forged  quickly  ahead.  Officers 
with  waving  swords  rode  along  the  rear  of  the  lines  and  shouted 
loud  commands  and  words  of  encouragement.  Down  went  onef 
from  his  horse,  which  reared  and  fell  upon  his  rider,  whose  men 
rush  to  his  rescue.  As  the  third*  line  passed,  the  slimy  trail  of 
battle  came  in  view  behind  it,  for  the  field  was  speckled  with  the 
'first  crop  of  its  ghastly  harvest  ready  to  be  gathered. 

The  last  of  the  charging  lines  had  gone  beyond,  and  was  sweep- 
ing majestically  into  the  jaws  of  death,  when  the  mass  seemed 
to  halt,  while  from  the  front  line  sprouted  forth  a  long  angry  sheet 
of  flame  from  innumerable  gun-barrels.  Men  were  falling  fast 
now.  as  unseen  batteries  were  pelting  the  lines  with  an  iron  storm, 
and  the  Confederate  bullets  were  finding  the  object  of  their  flight. 
It  was  pitiful  to  see  the  men  drop,  at  times  in  groups,  knocked 
over  by  solid  shot,  or  riddled  with  musket  and  rifle  balls  or  bits 
of  shell  or  case  or  canister. 

Cheered  by  their  mounted  and  line  officers,  the  lines  advance 
and  pass  on.  without  halt  or  hesitation,  and  then,  the  battle  vanish- 
ed as  a  fading  vision,  while  a  thick  cloud  of  smoke  rolled  by  like  a 
blinding  fog  and  hid  them  from  view. 

From  the  above  description  it  will  be  seen  that  the  advance 
of  otir  Division  was  certainly  one  of  the  finest  sights  of  the 
war.  Striking  the  Hagerstown  pike  obliquely,  the  right  first 
reaching  it  and  climbing  the  post  and  six-rail  fence  on  each  side, 
pushed  on  into  the  west  woods  that  surrounded  the  Dunker 
Church,  the  left  of  the  line  reaching  to  the  church  and  the  right 
continuing  across  the  open  field  beyond  and  into  the  woods,  ful- 
filling General  Sedgwick's  orders  to  "Push  into  the  woods",  which 
sheltered  us  from  their  artillery  fire,  they  also  using  canister  with 
terrible  efifect.  Adjutant  Pleis  had  his  horse  shot  from  under 
him  and  instantly  killed  by  a  roinid  shot,  before  reaching  the 
Hagerstown  road.  The  First  Brigade  under  Gorman,  closely 
followed  by  the  Third  under  Dana,  and  that  by  the  Second  under 
Howard,  was  pressing  through  the  woods  and  down  a  slight  in- 
clination when  they  uncovered  the  enemy  under  McLaws,  who 
had  just  arrived  from  Harper's  Ferry,  then  massing  in  a  cornfield 
below  them,  beyond  which  rose  quite  an  elevation  on  which  their 

*The  Philadelphia  Brigade. 

t  Adjutant  Pleis  of  the  io6th   Penna. 


104  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

batteries  were  placed.  The  infantry  opened  with  volley  after 
volley  into  our  line  as  soon  as  it  came  into  sight  and  the  artillery 
poured  into  us  a  heavy  fire  of  shot  and  shell.  Our  advance  halted 
and  at  once  opened  fire.  Early  and  Starke  joined  jMcLaws  and 
the  fire  became  intense.  Gorman  met  them  with  successive 
volleys,  but  his  men  could  not  stand  that  combined  attack  and  that 
terrible  fire,  so  gave  way  and  back  they  came  through  Dana's  line, 
destroying  its  usefulness,  and  carried  most  all  of  it  back  with 
them  and  would  no  doubt  have  carried  our  brigade  too,  but  for 
the  coolness  and  prompt  action  of  its  commander,  General  How- 
ard, who  instructed  them  to  lie  down  and  reserve  their  fire,  and 
as  soon  as  his  front  was  cleared  of  the  retreating  troops,  gave 
the  order  to  fire.  Its  efifectiveness  checked  their  advance,  and  had 
he  been  supported  could  have  held  his  ground,  designated  by 
General  Jackson  as  the  key  of  the  battlefield. 

Lieutenant  James  C.  Lynch,  then  in  command  of  Company  A 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth,  called  the  attention  of  Colonel 
Owen,  of  the  Sixty-Ninth,  to  their  column,  now  plainly  visible 
on  our  left  flank ;  Colonel  Owen  said  he  saw  them  and  had  called 
General  Howard's  attention  to  them,  and  he  had  replied  that  he 
knew  it,  but  his  orders  were  to  move  right  oblique.  At  this  mo- 
ment General  Sumner  rode  in  front  of  our  brigade  from  left  to 
right,  his  hat  in  hand,  his  white  locks  blown  by  the  breeze,  his  eye 
flashing  fire,  gave  an  order  which  our  men  thought  was  to  charge, 
and  answered  him  with  a  cheer,  rose  up,  began  to  fix  bayonets, 
but  the  General  cried  "Back  Boys,  for  God's  sake  move  back; 
you  are  in  a  bad  fix".  He  had  seen  the  enemy  fast  getting  around 
our  flank,  and  had  sent  two  dift'erent  aides  with  orders  to  General 
Howard  to  change  front  on  the  left  to  meet  them,  but  one  was 
killed  and  the  other  wounded,  and  General  Howard  never  re- 
ceived the  order ;  so  General  Sumner  rode  up  himself  to  save  his 
men,  and,  waving  his  hat  backwards,  the  men  understood  and 
reluctantly  began  to  retire  in  good  order.  For  the  first  time  in 
its  history  was  Sedgwick's  Division  compelled  to  retire  before  the 
enemy,  and  its  brave  commander  twice  wounded,  refusing  to 
leave  the  field  when  first  wounded.  As  we  emerged  from  the 
woods  the  enemy  opened  with  their  artillery  a  terrific  fire  of 
canister  from  batteries  thev  had  rushed  into  position  on  our  left 


1862]  ANTIETAM  105 

flank,  with  terrible  effect,  and  then  their  infantry  rushed  into  the 
gap,  poured  volley  after  volley  into  the  flank  of  our  now  retreat- 
ing line ;  this  hastened  our  retreat  and  broke  our  line,  then  mov- 
ing rapidly  off  towards  the  right,  causing  a  very  heavy  loss, 
especially  in  the  Seventy-Second  Regiment,  then  on  the  left. 

Colonel  Morehead's  horse  was  shot  from  under  him,  and,  falling, 
held  him  fast  until  released  by  Sergeant  Joseph  Taylor  and  Cor- 
porals McNeal  and  Stephen  Taylor  of  Company  C.  After  going 
some  distance  to  the  rear  the  Colonel  found  he  had  lost  his  sword, 
a  handsome  one,  that  had  been  presented  to  him  by  the  Regi- 
ment, and  went  back  after  it,  though  urged  not  to  do  so  by  the 
men,  but  he  said,  "Yes  I  will,  that  sword  was  given  me  by  my  men 
and  I  told  them  I  would  protect  it  with  my  life  and  never  see 
it  dishonored,  and  I  am  not  going  to  let  them  damned  rebels  get 
it",  so  he  went  back  to  where  his  horse  lay  and  got  it  and  returned 
in  safety  to  the  regiment  although  the  enemy  was  near  enough  to 
demand  his  surrender,  and  fired  at  him  because  he  refused. 

Arriving  at  a  fence,  running  at  right  angles  to  the  Hagerstown 
pike  across  the  open  field  north  of  the  Dunker  Church,  an  effort 
was  made  to  rally  and  check  the  advance  of  the  now  elated  enemy, 
who  were  emerging  from  the  woods  in  large  numbers.  Here 
Sergeant  Benjamin  F.  Sloanaker,  of  Company  C,  Color  Sergeant, 
and  W'ith  Sergeants  Rose  and  Foy  of  Company  H,  planted  the 
colors  on  the  fence  and  called  upon  the  Regiment  to  "rally  on 
the  colors".  Captain  Allen  and  Lieutenant  Tyler  rallied  the 
other  men.  calling  upon  them  to  stand  by  their  colors,  and  stand 
they  did,  detachments  of  other  regiments  joining  them.  Col- 
onel Morehead  opened  fire,  pouring  volley  after  volley  in  quick 
succession  into  the  advancing  enemy,  who,  thinking  they  had 
struck  our  second  line,  checked  their  advance,  and  finally  fell 
back  under  cover  of  the  wood.  Colonel  Morehead,  though  in- 
jured by  the  fall  of  his  horse,  remained  on  the  field. 

A  portion  of  the  Regiment,  principally  Company  A,  had  fallen 
back  part  of  the  way  to  some  haystacks  further  to  the  right 
of  the  position,  where  the  Regiment  made  its  stand,  and  there 
formed  and  opened  fire.  It  was  joined  by  a  detachment  of  a 
Massachusetts  regiment  under  a  captain,  who  was  almost  in- 
stantly killed  upon  reaching  there,  by  a  round  shot.      (We  have 


106  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

since  been  informed  that  this  was  the  Fifteenth  Massachusetts.) 
These  detachments  from  this  point  opened  fire,  and  by  their  well- 
directed  and  constant  volleys  materially  assisted  in  checking  that 
advance.  This  detachment  soon  after  joined  the  Regiment,  and 
went  with  it  to  the  support  of  the  artillery.  We  cannot  pass  on, 
without  referring  to  the  personal  gallantry  of  Sergeant  Charles 
E.  Hickman  of  Company  A,  who,  with  his  gun  in  both  hands 
across  his  body,  marching  backwards  all  the  way,  called  upon  his 
men  to  keep  steady,  and  by  his  example  kept  the  company  closed 
up,  and  then  in  good  order  retired,  firing  as  they  fell  back.  Here 
Sergeant  Hickman  gave  his  life  for  his  country,  being  instantly 
killed. 

This  ended  the  contest  in  our  front.  The  One  Hundred  and 
Sixth  Regiment  then  fell  back  still  further  to  the  right,  and  again 
formed  between  a  house  and  barn,  receiving  many  of  the  members 
that  had  been  separated  from  them,  and  was  then  ordered  by 
General  Howard  back,  and  around  to  the  left  to  support  the  artil- 
lery, and  took  their  position  in  the  edge  of  the  woods  on  the  east 
side  of  that  cornfield,  being  the  same  woods  through  which  they 
advanced  early  in  the  morning.  Now  known  as  the  "East 
Woods". 

In  the  meantime.  French  with  his  Division  was  manfully  trying 
to  keep  up  with  Sedgwick,  but  meeting  the  formidable  lines  of  D. 
H.  Hill  in  his  front  and  extending  far  on  his  left,  he  was  unable  to 
do  so,  but  slowly  and  persistently  he  pushed  forward  and  gradu- 
ally forced  Hill  from  his  position  at  the  Roulette  House,  but  Hill,^ 
reinforced  by  Anderson,  persisted  in  keeping  east  of  the  Hagers- 
town  road  and  took  up  a  strong  position  in  a  sunken  road.  Rich- 
ardson with  his  Division  extended  French's  line  to  the  left  and 
attacked  Hill  and  Anderson.  Irwin  and  Brooke's  Brigades  from 
Franklin's  Corps  were  sent  to  reinforce  Richardson,  who,  push- 
ing Irwin's  Brigade  across  the  Hagerstown  pike,  cleared  the 
ground  around  the  Dunker  Church,  and  a  gallant  charge  of  two 
regiments  from  Caldwell's  Brigade,  led  by  Colonel  Barlow,  finally 
drove  Hill  from  the  sunken  road  and  the  battle  ended  on  that 
part  of  the  field,  but  not  before  the  brave  General  Richardson  fell 
mortally  wounded  and  General  Hancock  was  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  his  division. 


1862]  ANTIETAM  107 

It  cannot  be  regretted  that  Sedgwick  was  compelled  to  yield 
the  ground  that  had  cost  so  much  to  gain ;  and  as  has  been  said,  it 
was  the  first  time  that  his  division  had  been  compelled  to  retreat 
before  an  advancing  enemy  in  battle,  but  he  had  no  support  and 
no  connection,  he  was  in  fact  alone.  Hooker's  and  Mansfield's 
corps  seems  to  have  faded  from  sight,  either  withdrawn,  or  might 
truly  be  said  to  have  been  cut  to  pieces,  but  Swinton  says : 

Hooker  had  lost  nearly  half  his  effective  force  by  straggling;  his 
offensive  power  was  completely  gone,  for  there  was  nothing  left 
of  them. 

Not  a  detachment  of  either  corps  was  on  the  ground  over  which 
Sedgwick  advanced,  except  those  assisting  the  wounded  to  the 
rear.  Sumner  had  seen  Hooker  badly  wounded,  his  corps  gone, 
and  in  his  report  says : 

I  saw  nothing  of  his  (Hooker's)  corps  at  all  as  I  was  advancing 
with  my  command  on  the  field.     *  *  *  * 

(He  had  advanced  with  Sedgwick's  Division.) 

There  were  some  troops  on  the  left  which  I  took  to  be  Mans- 
field's command, 

and  trying  to  find  Hooker's  line  he  further  says : 

I  sent  one  of  my  own  staff  to  find  where  they  were,  and  General 
Ricketts,  the  only  officer  we  could  find,  said  he  could  not  raise  three 
hundred  men  of  his  corps. 

There  were  therefore  no  troops  in  reserve  near  us,  or  none  that 
could  be  sent ;  Sedgwick  could  get  no  support,  and  therefore  had 
to  retreat. 

Then,  Sedgwick  formed  his  lines, a  brigade  in  each  line, too  close 
together,  only  about  twenty  or  thirty  paces  apart,  so  that  when 
the  first  line  gave  way  and  came  back  through  the  second,  it 
carried  it  along  with  it,  and  they  together  broke  the  effective  force 
of  the  third,  which  held  its  ground  until  ordered  back  by  General 
Sumner  in  person.  Besides,  had  they  not  been  so  close  together, 
the  rear  line  could  readily  have  changed  front  to  the  left,  and  pre- 
vented the  line  being  flanked,  and  perhaps  saved  most  of  the  heavy 
loss  sustained  by  the  division,  which  was  the  heaviest  of  any 
division  in  that  battle,  being  355  killed,  1,579  wounded,  and  321 
missing;  a  total  of  2,555. 


108  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

Again,  had  French  been  able  to  push  forward  his  division  more 
rapidly,  insisting  upon  keeping  his  connection  with  Sedgwick,  the 
enemy  could  not  have  got  around  on  Sedgwick's  flank,  and  there 
would  have  been  no  necessity  of  retreat,  for  the  enemy  could  not 
then  have  concentrated  their  ten  brigades,  with  all  their  artillery, 
against  Sedgwick's  three  brigades. 

And  last,  it  would  have  been  better  for  Sumner,  who  accom- 
panied Sedgwick's  division,  not  to  have  advanced  it  beyond  its 
support.  If  French  could  not  cross  the  Hagerstown  road,  he 
should  not  have  pushed  Sedgwick  beyond  it,  except  as  a  flanking 
column  against  the  troops  opposing  French's  further  advance; 
one  brigade  would  have  been  sufficient  for  that  purpose,  and,  if 
successful,  would  have  had  the  other  two  brigades  as  support; 
then  there  would  have  been  no  gap  for  the  enemy  to  take  advant- 
age of. 

Swinton  thus  describes  our  advance : 

Sumner  threw  Sedgwick's  division  on  his  right  across  the  open 
field  into  the  woods  opposite — the  woods  in  which  Crawford  had 
been  fighting — he  easily  drove  the  shattered  Confederate  troops 
before  him,  and  held  definite  possession  of  the  woods  around  the 
Dunker  Church.  At  the  moment  that  Sedgwick  appeared  to  grasp 
victory  in  his  hands,  and  the  troops  of  Jackson  and  Hood  were 
retreating  in  disorder,  two  Confederate  divisions  under  McLaws 
and  Walker  reached  the  field  and  immediately  turned  the  fortunes 
of  the  d^y.  A  considerable  interval  had  been  left  between  Sumner's 
right  division  under  Sedgwick  and  his  centre  division  under 
French.  Through  this  the  enemy  penetrated,  enveloping  Sedg- 
wick's left  flank,  and,  pressing  heavily  at  the  same  time  on  his 
front,  forced  him  out  of  the  woods  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hagers- 
town road,  and  back  across  the  open  field  into  the  woods  on  the 
east  side  of  the  road — the  original  position  held  in  the  morning. 

General  Sedgwick  being  w'ounded.  General  Howard  assumed 
command  of  the  division,  and  Colonel  Owen  the  brigade. 

Colonel  Palfrey  is  in  error  when  he  says  in  his  book,  "Antietam 
and  Fredericksburg",  page  87:  "The  third  line,  the  Philadelphia 
Brigade  so  called,  was  the  first  to  go."  It  did  not  leave  the  zvood 
until  ordered  to  do  so  by  General  Sumner,  and  then  not  until  after 
the  first  and  second  lines  had  broken,  and  portions  of  them  were 
coming  back  through  the  line  of  the  Philadelphia  Brigade.     Gen- 


1862]  ANTIETAM  109 

eral  Isaac  J.  Wistar,  then  Colonel  commanding  the  Seventy-First 
Pennsylvania,  the  right  of  our  brigade,  in  a  letter  to  the  writer 
says: 

I  personally  saw  the  second  line  break  before  the  wild  ru,sh  of 
fugitives  from  the  front  line,  and  for  a  few  minutes  my  greatest 
difficulty  was  from  these  fugitives,  since  they  masked  the  fire  of  the 
Seventy-First. 

In  his  letter  replying  to  Colonel  Palfrey,  he  says :  • 

Upon  the  integrity  of  this  last  line,  which  he  (Palfrey)  com- 
plained was  "the  first  to  go",  now  depended  the  entire  right  of  the 
line,  and  a  stern  resistance  was  maintained  by  it,  both  to  the 
fugitives  and  the  enemy. 

General  Sumner  did  not  try  "to  face  it  about,  preparatory  to  a 
change  of  front",  but  waved  them  back,  hat  in  hand,  using  the 
words  "Back,  boys,  for  God's  sake  back".  He  had  sent  orders 
twice  to  General  Howard  to  change  front  to  the  left,  but  General 
Howard  never  received  them  on  account  of  one  aide  being  killed 
and  the  other  wounded. 

Again  the  brigade  was  not  "the  first  to  go",  but  when  General 
Sumner  rode  in  their  front  and  gave  the  command  to  move  back 
there  were  no  troops  in  their  front,  and  the  men,  thinking  he 
wanted  them  to  charge,  rose  up  cheering  and  some  fixed  bayonets, 
and  when  they  understood  what  he  wanted  moved  hack  well  in 
hand,  and  not  as  Palfrey  says:  "In  spite  of  all  efiforts  to  restrain 
them",  and  they  were  the  last  to  go,  but  upon  emerging  from  the 
woods  and  receiving  that  terrible  flank  fire  of  artillery  and  infantry 
their  line  became  broken  and  all  formation  lost. 

The  writer  has  already  shown  that  the  One  Hundred  and 
Sixth  Regiment  moved  back  zvell  in  hand,  and  Colonel  Wistar 
further  says  of  the  Seventy-First : 

Under  its  surviving  Captain  (all  of  the  field  officers  were 
wounded  and  left  upon  the  ground),  what  was  left  of  it  marched 
to  the  rear,  served  with  fresh  cartridges,  called  its  roll  and  re- 
ported to  General  Meade,  ready  for  any  duty,  and  was  put  into 
action  by  that  gallant  General  within  half  an  hour. 

This  regiment  was  cut  ofi^  from  the  Division,  and  General  Meade, 
then  commanding  a  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves,  was 


110  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

the  first  General  officer  the  Captain  then  in  command,  met,  and, 
knowing  that  the  Regiment  was  still  capable  of  some  service,  re- 
ported to  him,  as  he  had  called  for  aid.  He  placed  it  again  in 
action. 

Palfrey  again  errs  when  he  says :  "There  were  no  fences  at  that 
part  of  the  pike  where  they  crossed" ;  for  there  was  a  fence  on 
each  side  of  the  pike,  a  strong  post  and  six-railed  fence,  that  the 
One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment  had  to  climb  and  the  mounted 
officers  ride  some  distance  to  the  right  to  get  through  an  opening, 
and  many  members  of  the  Regiment  will  remember  the  dead  rebel 
hanging  on  that  fence.  He  is  also  in  error  when  he  states  that: 
"It  is  doubtful  whether  the  third  line  even  entered  the  west  wood". 
*  *  *  "If  they  did,  they  did  not  stay  long".  They  not  only  enter- 
ed the  wood,  but  advanced  through  it  down  the  slight  inclination 
until  the  cornfield  beyond,  in  which  the  enemy  was  concealed,  and 
the  elevation  on  which  their  batteries  were  placed,  were  plainly 
visible,  and  they  stayed  there  longer  than  either  of  the  other  two 
brigades,  which  we  grant  was  not  long,  but  long  enough  to  receive 
from  General  Sumner  himself  the  order  to  move  back. 

In  the  afternoon  the  scattered  portions  of  the  Regiment  were 
withdrawn  back  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  east  side  of  the  corn- 
field east  of  the  Hagerstown  road,  supporting  artillery,  where  they 
remained  for  the  night  and  the  next  morning  rejoined  the  brigade. 

Colonel  Wistar  closes  his  letter,  after  referring  to  the  quality 
and  service  of  the  gallant  regiments  of  the  other  brigades,  as 
follows : 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  they  should  have  possessed  a  single 
officer  willing  to  give  currency  to  unfounded  statements,  to  the 
prejudice  of  other  troops  of  equal  merit,  who,  on  the  same  field 
and  in  the  same  corps  and  division,  loyally  and  cheerfully  shed 
their  blood  in  the  same  cause. 

About  noon,  after  the  contest  had  ceased  in  our  front,  General 
l^)Urnside  began  his  attack  on  the  left  and  tried  to  force  his  way 
over  the  stone  bridge  in  his  front,  but  after  three  attempts  gave 
it  up  and  sent  Rodman's  Division  down  the  stream  to  cross  at 
a  ford.  This  they  did  and  came  up  on  the  other  side,  fighting  their 
way  against  Tomb's  Division,  then  Burnside  made  the  final 
attempt  to  carry  the  bridge  by  assault  and  by  a  gallant  charge  of 


1862]  ANTIETAM  111 

the  Fifty-First  Pennsylvania,  Colonel  Hartranft,  and  the  Fifty- 
First  New  York,  Colonel  Potter,  with  bayonets  fixed  and  on  a  run, 
they  captured  the  stone  bridge,  under  a  heavy  fire  from  Tomb's 
Division  that  defended  it,  which  will  ever  after  be  known  as 
Burnside's  Bridge.  Sturgis'  and  Wilcox's  Divisions  were  hurried 
across  to  help  Rodman  who  was  fiercely  attacked  by  A.  P.  Hill's 
Division,  just  arrived  from  Harper's  Ferry,  and  had  forced  his 
way  through  a  gap  between  Rodman  and  Wilcox,  inflicting  a  very 
heavy  loss  on  Rodman,  who  fell  trying  to  rally  his  men.  Sturgis 
was  thrown  into  the  gap  and  succeeded  in  driving  Hill  back  and 
connecting  with  Wilcox,  and  the  Battle  of  Antietam  was  over. 

The  loss  to  both  armies  was  very  heavy,  ours  being  2,010  killed, 
9,416  wounded  and  1,043  missing,  making  a  total  of  12,469,  and  in- 
cluded many  good  and  prominent  officers,  principally  Major- 
Generals  James  R.  F.  Mansfield  and  Isaac  B.  Richardson,  Brigad- 
ier General  Isaac  P.  Rodman  and  Colonels  Kingsbury,  of  Con- 
necticut ;  Hinks  and  Dwight,  of  Massachusetts  ;  Crossdale,  Childs 
and  McNeill,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Coleman,  of  Ohio,  killed  and 
Generals  Hooker,  Sedgwick.  Crawford,  Dana  and  Hartranft, 
wounded. 

As  far  as  can  be  ascertained  the  Confederates'  loss  was  14,000. 
Lee,  in  his  reports,  sums  up  1.567  killed,  8,274  wounded,  total 
10,291,  to  which  is  to  be  added  the  missing;  but  by  a  collation  of 
subsidiary  reports  appended,  shows  at  least  2,000  killed,  10,000 
wounded  and  5,000  missing,  making  a  total  of  17,000.  It  was 
certainly  heavier  than  our  own,  and  included  Generals  Starke, 
and  Newton,  of  Georgia ;  Tew  and  Douglass,  of  North  Carolina ; 
Liddell  and  Barnes,  of  Mississippi,  killed,  and  Generals  Lawton, 
Anderson,  Gregg,  J.  R.  Jones,  Ripley  and  Rhoades,  wounded. 

The  Twenty-Seventh  Georgia  had  every  commissioned  officer 
killed,  and  the  Fourth  North  Carolina  every  officer  killed  or 
wounded. 

As  has  been  stated,  Sedgwick's  Division  sustained  the  heaviest 
loss  of  any  division  on  our  side,  being  355  killed,  1,579  wounded 
and  321  missing,  total  2555,  and  our  Brigade  lost  93  killed,  379 
wounded  and  Jt^  missing,  total  545.  Of  these  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth  contributed  the  following:  Two  officers  and  thirteen 
men  killed,  two  officers  and  fifty-three  men  wounded  and  two  men 


112  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

missing,  making  a  total  of  fifteen  killed,  fifty-five  wounded  and 
two  missing,  total  seventy-two. 

The  killed  were :  Captain  Timothy  Clark  and  Lieutenant  Wil- 
liam Bryan,  of  Company  F,  and  Sergeant  Charles  E.  Hickman, 
and  Privates  Joshua  Beckley  and  Patrick  Scullen  of  Company  A ; 
Sergeant  John  H.  Chambers,  of  Company  B ;  Corporal  William 
M'Neal  and  Private  William  A.  Dibble,  of  Company  C ;  Privates 
Thomas  Daud.  George  G.  Mason  and  Elwood  Rodebaugh,  of 
Company  D ;  Private  John  McLaughlin,  of  Company  E ;  Sergeant 
Richard  Sanders,  of  Company  F ;  Privates  Walter  Leggett,  of 
Company  G,  and  Henry  Diemer,  of  Company  H. 

The  wounded  were : 

Company  A. 

Sergeant  Crewe,  Corporals  Steinmetz  and  Walton,  and  Privates 

Connelly,  Morris,   Nichols,  Sharpley,   Smith  and  Waldron. 

Coynpany  B. 
Lieutenant  John  A.  Steel,  Sergeant  A.  C.  Schank,  Private  John 
Masterson. 

Company  C. 
Sergeants    Neiler,   Taylor,    Corporals    Baile,   Ward,    Privates   Ar- 
buckle,  Cole  and  Spencer. 

Company  D. 
Privates  Etler,  E.  J.  Holcomb  and  Kendall. 

Company  E. 
Corporals    Stroup,    Hart,    Schaer    and    Privates    Montenay    and 
Rice,  who  died  from  same. 

Company  F. 
Sergeant    Clark    Whitmoyer,    Privates    Cofifman,    Howlett,    Liver- 
good,  Lucke,  Pfoust  and  Soars. 

Company  G. 
Privates  Ehler  and  Townsend. 

Company  H. 
Sergeant   Rose,   Weideiman,    and    Privates    Anderson,    Miller   and 
Rawnsley. 

Company  I. 
Sergeant  Witter,  Privates  Outen,  McNalley  and  Sterling. 


Captain  Ralph  W.  P.  Allen. 
Aug.  13,  1861.  Jan.  g,  1863. 

Promoted  to  Lieut. -Colonel,  188th  P.  V.,  Jan  9.  i£ 


Sergeant  Thko    L.  Lockekman. 

Aug.  19,  1S61.  Nov.  14,  1863 

Promoted  to  Lieutenant,  137th  P.  V.,  Nov.  14,  1863. 


COMPANY  C. 


Sfrgeant  George  W.  White. 
Sept.  2,  1861.  Feb.  9, 

Discharged,  Feb.  9,  1863.     Disability 


1862]  ANTIETAM  113 

Company  K. 
Corporal   Henry  Darrah,   and   Privates   Clark,   McBride,   McCann, 

McGinn,   McGuffin,   INlcVey   and   Ward.     Darrah   and   McVey 

dying  from  same. 
Captured : — Privates   Steinrook,   of  Company  B,   and   Paddock  of 

Company  K. 

As  to  the  number  of  troops  engaged,  the  same  diversity  of 
opinion  that  usually  occurs  as  to  estimates  of  opposing  forces  is 
again  used  in  giving  the  estimated  number  of  each  army  engaged 
at  Antietam.  General  Lee  in  his  official  report  as  published  in 
"Reports  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia",  says : 

The  great  battle  was  fought  by  less  than  forty  thousand  men  on 
our  side,  all  of  whom  had  undergone  the  greatest  labors  and  hard- 
ships in  the  field  and  on  the  march. 

Colonel  Taylor  in  his  "Four  Years  with  General  Lee",  puts  the 
number  down  at  35,255.  but  if  this  estimate  is  made  up  in  the 
same  ratio  as  General  D.  R.  Jones'  statement  in  regard  to  his 
division,  who  said  he  had  but  2,430  men  in  his  six  brigades, 
containing  tzventy-seven  regiments,  and  then  adds  that  two  regi- 
ments had  403,  leaving  but  2,027  to  be  divided  among  25  regi- 
ments, that  would  mean  not  over  eighty  men  to  a  regiment.  I 
think  we  may  safely  discredit  General  Lee's  report  and  put  them 
down  at  60,000. 

McClellan  in  his  report  put  his  force  at  87,164.  Of  these  the 
Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps  and  the  Cavalry  Division,  all  numbering 
according  to  the  same  report  29,550,  were  not  engaged,  would 
leave  but  57,614  of  our  troops  actually  reported  present  for  duty. 
From  these  there  must  be  considerable  reduction  to  arrive  at  those 
actually  engaged,  for  Hooker,  whose  corps  is  reported  as  having 
14,856,  says  he  took  into  action  but  9,000  men,  and  Williams,  who 
succeeded  to  the  command  of  Mansfield's  Corps,  which  is  reported 
as  having  10,126  men,  says  his  corps  numbered  but  7,000.  Taking 
the  same  ratio  of  reduction  throughout  the  whole  army,  which  is 
but  fair  as  the  reports  show  all  those  marked  present  for  duty, 
and  include  all  non-combatants  such  as  musicians,  teamsters, 
hospital  and  ambulance  details,  besides  the  guards  that  were  left 
behind  to  guard  the  knapsacks  and  regimental  property,  and  we 
would  have  the  following-: 


114  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

First  Corps.  Report  14,856  present  for  duty,  but  took  into  action  only  about  9,000  men. 

Second    "  "  18,813  "  "  "  '  11,500 

Fifth        "  •'  12,930  "  "  "  "           

Sixth        "  "  12,300  "  "  "  "           

Ninth       "  "  13,8'4  "  ••  "  "  9,00'> 

Twelfth  "  "  10,126  "  "  "  "  7,000 

Fourth    "  &  Cav'y  "  4,320  "  "  "  "           

87,164  36,5C0 

To  this  may  be  added  that  portion  of  the  Sixth  Corps  that 
moved  into  position  in  the  afternoon,  but  was  not  actively  engaged, 
and  we  will  put  down  our  number  at  40,000,  and  we  have  both 
armies  about  equal  in  point  of  numbers,  for  General  Lee  says, 
"the  battle  was  fought  by  less  than  40,000",  and  not  that  his  re- 
ports show  he  had  40,000.  Now  his  line  was  formed  as  a  semi- 
circle, curved  outward,  and  as  McClellan  attacked  his  line  at  only 
one  place  at  a  time,  beginning  on  their  left  and  ending  on  their 
right,  Lee  was  enabled  to  move  his  forces  from  left  to  right,  and 
some  of  the  same  troops  that  fought  in  the  morning  on  his  left 
were  also  engaged  in  the  afternoon  on  his  right,  or  acted  as 
support  to  those  engaged. 

Swintpn  speaks  of  this  invasion  as  follows : 

Its  failure  was  signal.  Designed  as  an  invasion,  it  degenerated 
into  a  raid.  Aiming  to  raise  the  standard  of  revolt  in  Maryland, 
and  rally  the  citizens  of  that  state  around  the  secession  cause,  it 
resulted  in  the  almost  complete  disruption  of  that  army  itself.  In- 
stead of  the  flocks  of  recruits  he  had  expected,  Lee  was  doomed  to 
the  mortification  of  seeing  his  force  disintegrating  so  rapidly  as  to 
threaten  its  utter  dissolution,  and  he  confessed  with  anguish  that 
his  army  was  ruined  by  straggling. 

And  Lee,  speaking  of  the  hard  marching  of  his  men,  and  the 
want  of  rest  and  food,  and  shoes  to  their  feet,  says : 

These  causes  had  compelled  thousands  of  brave  men  to  absent 
themselves,  and  many  more  had  done  so  from  unworthy  motives. 
This  great  battle  was  fought  by  less  than  forty  thousand  meu  on 
our  side. 

While  Hill  is  not  so  generous  in  his  Report,  he  says : 

Thousands  of  thievish  poltroons  had  kept  away  from  sheer 
cowardice ;  the  straggler  is  generally  a  thief,  and  always  a  coward. 


1862]  ANTIETAM  115 

On  the  morning  of  the  i8th  no  movement  of  either  army  was 
made.  Neither  seemed  anxious  to  renew  the  fight  that  had  cost 
each  so  much  the  day  before.  AlcClellan  made  no  advance  to 
again  attempt  to  force  Lee  from  his  position,  notwithstanding 
that  he  had  Porter's  and  Frankhn's  Corps,  numbering  about 
twenty-five  thousand  men  that  had  not  yet  been  engaged.  We 
think  he  should  have  used  them,  and  again  attacked  Lee.  He 
certainly  knew  the  ground  better,  its  strong  as  well  as  its  weak 
points,  and  he  had  all  his  resources  back  of  him,  while  Lee  was 
far  removed  from  his,  his  effective  force  reduced  one  half,  and 
the  rest  much  demoralized.  All  this  was  known  to  McClellan 
then.  We  do  not  propose  to  add  all  that  has  since  become  known, 
and  how  easy  it  would  have  been  to  have  defeated  Lee,  as  writers 
are  too  prone  to  say,  when  they  are  in  possession  of  many  import- 
ant facts  that  were  unknown  at  the  time.  But  with  such  facts  as 
above  stated,  then  known  to  McClellan,  we  feel  bound  to  repeat 
that  he  should  have  renewed  the  attack  as  soon  as  it  was  daylight 
on  the  eighteenth,  and  there  would  have  been  no  doubt  of  his  suc- 
cess. His  excuse  was  that  many  commands  of  his  army  were 
badly  cut  up,  and  many  of  his  prominent  leaders  were  killed  and 
wounded.  This  applied  with  much  more  force  to  the  enemy  and 
he  must  have  known  that  no  matter  how  bad  he  thought  his 
army  was,  Lee's  army  was  much  worse.  • 

Lee,  not  able  to  take  the  offensive,  quietly  awaited  the  attack  that 
was  not  made.  So  the  day  following  that  terrible  battle  passed 
with  both  armies  quietly  facing  each  other.  Early  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  19th,  when  McClellan  had  decided  to  renew  the  fight,  it 
was  discovered  that  Lee  had  quietly  withdrawn  and  re-crossed 
the  Potomac.  Porter's  Corps  was  immediately  sent  in  pursuit,  and 
at  dark  crossed  a  detachment  and  captured  five  pieces  of  artillery, 
the  next  morning  crossing  a  much  larger  force ;  but  the  enemy  re- 
turned, and  with  a  larger  force  made  a  furious  onslaught  and 
drove  Porter's  men  back  across  the  river  with  heavy  loss,  many 
being  shot  while  in  the  river. 

On  the  19th  we  were  moved  back  to  our  first  position  in  the 
woods  at  the  edge  of  that  fatal  cornfield  east  of  the  Hagerstown 
road,  where  we  remained  for  three  days,  details  being  made  to 
bury  the  dead  of  both  armies.     As  nearly  all  of  the  dead  of  the 


116  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

enemy  were  left  within  our  lines  or  on  the  ground  that  lay  be- 
tween the  lines,  the  larger  number  of  the  Confederate  dead  that 
lay  in  our  front  warrants  the  assertion  that  their  loss  was  much 
heavier  than  ours.  McClellan  states  that  twenty-seven  hundred 
of  the  Confederate  dead  were  counted  and  buried  by  our  men. 
The  writer  visited  that  now  famous  cornfield,  where  the  batteries 
of  Hooker  annihilated  almost  an  entire  regiment,  that  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Georgia,  and  saw  then  their  line  as  marked  by 
their  dead,  as  it  must  have  been  when  living,  and  they,  in  line  of 
battle,  advanced  to  the  fight ;  there  lay  almost  the  entire  regiment, 
he  saw  their  three  field  officers,  twenty  line  officers  and  nearly 
two  hundred  men,  lying  as  closely  as  they  had  stood  in  line  of 
battle  in  life.  It  was  heartrending  to  see  such  a  sacrifice  of  life. 
Their  ragged  and  worn-out  clothes,  their  many  bare  and  bruised 
feet,  told  of  their  want  and  suffering,  and  made  one  almost  feel 
glad  that  death  had  relieved  them  of  their  suffering  in  such  a 
hopeless  cause. 

It  was  impossible  to  bury  the  dead  fast  enough ;  the  action  of  the 
sun  and  the  warm  weather  impregnated  the  whole  atmosphere  with 
the  foul  odors  arising  from  their  fast  decomposing  bodies,  and 
those  of  the  enemy  became  swollen  and  turned  black,  so  that  they 
seemed  like  so  many  negroes,  and  although  large  details  worked 
hard  all  day  loitg,  and  long  trenches  were  dug  in  which  were 
placed  fifty  or  sixty  at  a  time,  yet  even  then  they  could  not  be 
buried  fast  enough,  so  that  many  were  put  into  piles  and  at 
night  burned ;  the  terrible  stench  which  was  blown  over  our  camp 
made  it  almost  unbearable ;  one  had  almost  to  dig  one's  nose  into 
the  ground  to  get  a  good  breath.  We  were  almost  sickened,  with 
no  appetite  to  eat,  as  even  the  food  seemed  tainted  with  the  foul 
odor  that  enveloped  us,  so  that  when,  at  the  expiration  of  three 
days,  we  received  orders  to  move,  it  was  with  the  greatest  joy, 
and  at  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  22d,  we  left  that  camp,  and 
forever  the  battlefield  of  Antietam. 


1862]  McCLELLAN  RELIEVED  111 


CHAPTER  XI. 

McCLELLAN     RELIEVED. 

LEAVING  our  camp  on  the  battlefield  of  Antietam  at  5.30  on 
the  morning"  of  September  22d,  we  passed  through  the 
town  of  Sharpsburg.  Here  the  terrible  havoc  of  war  was 
plainly  visible  by  the  shattered  houses  and  deserted  town.  Almost 
every  house  showed  the  marks  of  shot  and  shell,  and  many  were 
badly  damaged ;  nearly  all  the  inhabitants  had  left  and  only  soldiers 
were  occupying  the  streets ;  many  of  the  houses  and  large  build- 
ings were  converted  into  hospitals  for  the  wounded  of  both  armies, 
all  telling  of  the  terrible  battle  that  had  been  fought  in  its  im- 
mediate vicinity.  Artillery,  ambulances  and  wagon  trains  block- 
aded the  streets  or  were  slowly  pushing  their  way  after  the  pursu- 
ing army.  Our  brigade  was  on  the  right  of  the  corps  and  the 
One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment  leading  the  brigade.  Upon 
arriving  at  the  Potomac  at  Harper's  Ferry,  found  that  the  enemy 
had  burned  the  railroad  and  pontoon  bridges,  and  to  gain  the 
town  we  were  compelled  to  ford  the  river.  This  was  rather  un- 
pleasant, as  in  the  center  it  was  waist  deep.  As  on  our  first 
crossing  the  Potomac  at  this  point  at  the  beginning  of  our  first 
active  operations  just  seven  months  before,  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth  Regiment  was  then  on  the  lead,  so  again  does  the  Regi- 
ment lead  the  advance  into  Harper's  Ferry.  Upon  reaching  the 
opposite  bank  about  half  past  one  o'clock,  we  pushed  rapidly 
through  the  town  and  then  through  Bolivar,  taking  our  position 
on  Bolivar  Heights ;  forming  a  line  of  battle  with  the  battery  on 
our  right  and  Dana's  Brigade  on  our  left.  Our  march  of  about 
thirteen  miles  that  day,  over  that  hilly  country  and  wading  the  river 
waist  deep  was  a  very  laborious  and  tiresome  one,  so  that  we 
were  tired  out  when  at  last  we  took  position  on  Bolivar  Heights, 
where  we  remained  until  October  30th. 

General  Sedgwick  being  absent  on  account  of  the  wounds  re- 
ceived at   Antietam,   General   Howard  was   in  command  of  the 


118  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

Division,  and  Colonel  Baxter  of  the  Seventy-Second  Regiment 
commanded  the  Brigade. 

On  October  ist  we  were  reviewed  by  President  Lincoln.  He 
was  accompanied  by  Generals  McClellan,  Sumner,  French,  How- 
ard, Gorman,  Caldwell  and  Meagher  and  their  respective  staffs ; 
and  as  they  rode  along  the  line,  the  whole  command  again  mani- 
fested their  pleasure  at  the  visit,  and  their  affection  for  that  great 
and  good  man,  the  head  of  our  nation,  by  long  and  continued 
cheers  and  the  President's  salute  of  twenty-one  guns. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  9th  the  whole  Brigade  turned  out  en 
masse,  to  receive  back  our  old  commander.  General  Burns,  who 
had  so  far  recovered  from  his  wounds  as  to  return  to  duty.  The 
enthusiastic  reception  given  so  overcame  him  that  he  could  only 
say  "How  do  you  do,  men?"  which  elicited  additional  applause. 

The  same  day  Lieutenant-Colonel  William  L.  Curry  returned 
to  the  Regiment,  and  reported  for  duty,  together  with  some  of 
the  men  that  had  been  captured  and  were  then  exchanged.  He 
also  was  warmly  received. 

The  men  were  now  in  need  of  many  things  that  "Uncle  Sam" 
did  not  supply ;  and  although  clothing  and  rations  were  plenty 
and  freely  issued,  the  need  of  money  was  great,  and  the  absence 
of  the  paymaster  was  much  regretted.  Many  of  the  men  were 
continually  receiving  letters  from  home  telling  them  of  the  wants 
of  their  families,  and  they  unable  to  assist  them ;  so  that  when 
on  the  17th  of  October  our  Regiment  was  paid  off,  it  was  a  great 
relief  to  many  and  a  source  of  joy  to  all.  The  town  then  began 
to  be  temporarily  filled  by  that  throng  of  vultures  which  follow 
in  the  trail  of  the  paymaster,  to  extort  from  the  soldiers  their  pay 
for  the  few  things  they  really  needed,  or  felt  they  needed.  For 
these,  they  had  to  pay  two  or  three  prices,  and  particularly  for 
that  which  really  did  them  no  good,  but  which  the  proverbial 
soldier  would  have  if  he  could  get  it,  no  matter  what  it  cost — 
whiskey.  Although  the  orders  were  rigid,  that  none  should  be 
sold  to  the  men,  or  even  brought  over  the  river,  yet  in  spite  of 
all  care  and  precaution  by  many  ingenious  devices  it  was  smuggled 
and  abounded,  and  those  men  who  wanted  it  and  had  sufficient 
money  to  pay  for  it,  did  not  have  much  trouble  in  getting  what 
thev  wanted.     The  mere  fact  of  it  being  denied  and  requiring 


1862]  McCLELLAN  RELIEVED  119 

some  strategy  to  get  it  no  doubt  urged  some  to  persist  in  obtain- 
ing it,  who  otherwise  would  not,  that  they  might  boast  that  they 
got  it.  Frequently  the  stock  of  the  unfortunate  one  who  was 
caught  in  the  act  of  selling  it,  or  to  whose  door  it  could  be  traced, 
would  be  seized  and  sold  at  auction,  and  the  owner  sent  out  of 
the  town,  or  put  to  work  on  the  fortifications. 
Colonel  Banes  adds : 

After  the  failure  of  several  efforts  to  find  the  illicit  traders,  the 
men  were  set  to  work  as  detectives.  The  result  of  two  or  three 
nights  of  experimenting,  in  the  role  of  carousers  divulged  not  only 
the  names  of  the  dealers,  but  the  place  of  concealment  for  the 
"Contrabands".  The  discovery  exhibited  many  ingenious  devices 
to  avoid  capture  and  punishment.  Some  of  the  dealers  had 
barrels  constructed  to  draw  either  cider  or  whiskey ;  others  used, 
as  disguises,  boxes  of  tobacco  and  other  substances  not  at  all  sug- 
gestive of  their  real  contents.  In  some  places  the  boards  of  the 
floor  were  removed,  and  "the  stuff"  hidden  between  the  joists;  and 
in  others,  concealed  in  parts  of  furniture.  After  reprisals  and 
forfeiture  had  taken  place,  the  offenders  were  cautioned  and  put 
under  surveillance.  In  spite  of  all,  however,  some  persons  per- 
sisted in  the  business  and  met  the  consequences — a  seizure  of  all 
their  wares,  to  be  sold  at  auction,  and  the  owners  put  to  work  at 
the  fortifications  on  Loudon  Heights. 

On  October  i6th  a  reconnoissance  in  force  took  place  by  the 
whole  division,  but  our  Regiment  did  not  participate,  as  they  were 
preparing  for  the  paymaster  and  were  paid  off  the  next  day.  We 
could  see  the  skirmishing  from  our  camp. 

On  October  29th  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment  was 
sent  out  on  picket  to  relieve  a  portion  of  Hancock's  Division,  who 
were  to  move  forward  at  once,  and  the  next  morning,  before  we 
were  relieved,  received  orders  to  move ;  returned  to  camp,  packed 
up  and  about  12  o'clock  took  up  the  line  of  march  again,  through 
the  town,  crossed  the  Shenandoah  River  on  the  pontoon  bridge 
and  rejoined  our  Brigade ;  moved  over  Loudon  Heights  and  down 
into  that  beautiful  part  of  Virginia,  "Loudon  Valley",  and  went 
into  camp  just  before  dark,  having  marched  about  nine  miles. 

The  next  day,  October  31st.  we  remained  in  camp  and  were 
mustered  for  pay.  While  lying  there  Chaplain  Harris  returned 
from  Philadelphia,  where  he  had  gone  to  execute  the  many  little 


120  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

commissions  for  the  men,  principally  to  take  their  money  home 
to  their  families,  and  brought  with  him  a  fine  new  horse  and  full 
set  of  equipments  for  Adjutant  F.  M.  Pleis,  presented  to  him  by 
the  officers  and  men  of  the  Regiment,  for  the  one  that  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Antietam.  The  Regiment  was  drawn  up  in  line 
and  Chaplain  Harris  presented  them  on  behalf  of  the  Regiment, 
and  Colonel  Owen,  of  the  Sixty-Ninth,  received  them  for  the 
Adjutant ;  the  usual  jollification  followed,  which  was  principally 
enjoyed  by  the  officers. 

On  November  ist,  moved  to  Snickersville  and  camped.  Dur- 
ing the  march  there  was  considerable  trouble  with  the  Sixty-Ninth 
Regiment,  "Paddy  Owen's  Regulars",  owing  to  the  profusion  of 
whiske}-  that  in  some  way  or  other  found  its  way  among  the  rank 
and  file  (I  believe  mostly  received  in  boxes  sent  to  the  men  from 
their  homes,  that  should  have  reached  them  while  at  Bolivar 
Heights)  ;  large  numbers  of  them  were  tight  and  enjoyed  the 
Irishman's  prh'ilege  and  pleasure,  "free  fight",  so  that  by  the 
time  the  Regim^it  arrived  at  camp  it  was  considerably  demoral- 
ized in  appearance,  and  its  numbers  greatly  reduced  on  account 
of  so  many  being  unable  to  keep  up. 

During  the  night,  when  nearly  all  had  retired,  our  camp  was 
surprised  by  a  flock  of  sheep ;  the  little  bells  attached  to  some 
of  their  necks  gave  warning  of  their  approach ;  soon  many  of  the 
men  were  up  and  rushed  boldly  to  the  charge ;  the  loss  was  all 
on  one  side,  and  judging  from  the  qviantity  of  fresh  mutton  that 
was  served  for  breakfast  the  next  morning,  they  must  have  suffer- 
ed heavy  loss  for  their  boldness. 

On  the  2d,  moved  to  Snicker's  Gap,  and  when  relieved  during  the 
day  by  Porter's  Corps,  continued  our  march  down  the  valley  for 
about  nine  miles  and  encamped.  Shortly  afterwards  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment  was  again  ordered  in  line,  and  in 
light  marching  order  started  out  after  a  body  of  rebel  cavalry 
that  had  been  seen  prowling  around  our  front.  The  men  were 
cautioned  by  Colonel  Morehead  as  to  the  object  of  the  movement, 
and  Companies  A  and  B  were  advanced  as  skirmishers ;  we  ad- 
vanced for  nearly  three  miles  and  not  overtaking  them,  returned 
to  camp  without  any  skirmish,  only  to  find  the  rest  of  the  brigade 
on  the  march,  so  joined  them  and  continued  our  march  for  about 


1862]  McCLELLAN  RELIEVED  121 

four  miles  and  camped  for  the  night  in  a  cornfield,  near  Bloom- 
field. 

The  next  day,  November  3d,  General  Burns  formally  took  final 
leave  of  us,  he  having  been  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  First 
Division  of  the  Ninth  Corps.  The  men  were  drawn  up  in  line 
tehind  their  stacks,  and  he  rode  along  the  line,  stopping  in  front 
of  each  Regiment,  to  our  Regiment  he  said,  "Men,  always  do  your 
duty  as  well  as  you  have  done  and  you  will  always  be  victorious. 
Good  Bye".  Shaking  hands  with  some  of  the  officers,  he  rode 
down  the  road  with  his  stafif,  the  men  giving  him  three  hearty 
cheers.     The  following  order  was  read  to  the  brigade: 

Headquarters  Burns'  Brigade. 
Near  Bloomfield,  Va.,  Nov.  3,  1862. 
General  Order  No.  — . 

The  order  has  been  received  which  separates  us.  While  regrett- 
ing heartily  to  part  with  my  tried  and  true  companions-in-arms, 
higher  command  allures  me.  as  it  does  each  of  you,  to  advance  in 
my  efforts  to  save  our  glorious  country.  , 

In  bidding  you  a  final  adieu,  I  cannot  refrain  from  asking  you, 
in  the  name  of  our  cause,  your  success,  and  safety,  to  pay  rigid 
regard  to  discipline. 

Without  discipline  the  bravest  must  yield  to  the  basest.  General 
Washington  wept  tears  of  blood  over  this  great  want  in  his  army. 
You  know  the  necessity  now.  I  beg  you  to  remember  me  in  your 
determination  to  do  your  duty,  and  I  will  always  feel  proud  of  the 
victories  you  will  win.     God  bless  you. 

Wm.  W.  Burns, 
Brigadier  General  Commanding. 

The  separation  was  mutually  regretted.  As  has  been  previous- 
ly stated,  the  men  were  much  attached  to  him ;  he  had  led  them 
in  several  hard  fights,  and  greatly  improved  their  proficiency, 
and  has,  on  many  occasions,  testified  to  his  afifection  for  his  old 
Brigade,  both  previous  and  subsequently  to  his  departure.  On 
■one  occasion,  speaking  of  his  former  Brigade,  he  wrote : 

It  is  not  alone  the  performance  of  good  deeds,  but  more  in  re- 
straining from  temptation  and  resisting  the  inclination  to  do  bad 
acts  that  deserves  the  reward,  "Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful 
servant"  of  our  Lord,  and  the  respect  and  imitation  of  mankind. 

The  patriot  who  rushes  to  the  field  in  defence  of  his  country 
follows  the  blind   impulse  of  an  honorable  instinct,  but  the  man 


122  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

who,  in  addition,  subjects  himself  to  the  restraints  of  discipline, 
endures  hardships  and  sufifering  in  the  thousand  of  vicissitudes 
which  a  military  life  in  camp  and  in  field  inflicts  upon  a  universal 
soldier,  passes  through  the  chrysalis  state  of  manhood  into  the 
veteran  defender  of  his  country  and  her  rights.  When  this 
soldier  perseveres  with  a  single  eye  to  duty,  resisting  alike  the 
disloyalty  and  weakness  of  his  superiors,  while  combating  the 
open  blows  of  his  country's  foes,  he  becomes  a  "hero".  This  char- 
acter was  earned  and  is  the  meed  of  praise  due  to  the  soldiers  who 
were  first  organized  into  a  brigade  under  the  eloquent  Baker,  ill- 
fated  at  Ball's  Bluff,  and  who  from  that  battle  to  Petersburg  faith- 
fully fought  for  the  Union  under  the  flag  they  bore,  which  by  a 
seeming  providential  design,  always  floated  where  the  hottest 
battle  centered,  in  every  engagement  with  the  enemy  during  the 
Herculean  contest  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Colonel  Joshua  T.  Owen,  of  the  Sixty-Ninth,  assumed  command 
of  the  brigade,  and  appointed  Adjutant  F.  M.  Pleis.  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth,  as  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant-General.  We 
left  camp  about  i  o'clock,  and  marched  about  five  miles  and  camp- 
ed, being  about  two  and  a  half  miles  from  Upperville.  The 
enemy's  cavalry  being  discovered  in  our  front,  our  artillery  was 
placed  in  position,  and  opened  on  them,  and  in  a  short  time  drove 
them  out  of  sight  and  range. 

About  noon  on  the  4th,  left  camp,  marched  through  Upperville 
and  Paris  to  Ashby's  Gap,  where  we  remained  two  days  guarding 
the  pass  to  prevent  the  enemy  coming  over  the  mountain  at  that 
point.  Upon  our  arrival  we  could  see  the  smoke  of  their  camp 
fire  on  the  other  side  of  the  Shenandoah  River,  three  miles  distant. 

On  the  6th.  left  the  Gap,  marched  back  through  Paris,  and 
w'ent  into  camp  on  Goose  Creek  about  i  o'clock,  marching  about 
eight  miles. 

We  remained  in  camp  on  the  7th,  and  received  the  first  snow- 
storm of  the  season ;  it  began  snowing  about  10  o'clock  and  con- 
tinued until  dark,  spreading  a  white  mantle  over  the  ground  about 
two  inches  deep.  It  was  rather  hard  on  us,  with  nothing  but  our 
small  shelter-tents  to  protect  us. 

On  the  8th.  continued  our  march,  passing  through  Rectortown 
and  thence  to  Salem  and  camped,  making  about  ten  miles.  Gen- 
eral Howard,  who  had  been  absent  on  leave,  returned  and  took 
command  of  our  division  to-day,  relieving  General  Gorman. 


1862]  McCLELLAN  RELIEVED  123 

On  the  9th,  passed  through  Warrenton.  Being  Sunday,  Chap- 
lain Harris  held  service  after  arriving  in  camp,  and  delivered  his 
farewell  address,  he  having  resigned  to  accept  a  position  under 
the  Christian  Commission. 

On  the  loth,  the  whole  army  was  drawn  up  in  line  on  each  side 
of  the  Warrenton  road  for  final  review  by  General  McClellan, 
who  had  been  relieved,  and  had  turned  the  command  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  over  to  General  Burnside,  and  now  washed  to 
take  farewell  of  his  army.  It  was  a  sad  sight  as  "Little  Mac", 
as  he  was  familiarly  called,  rode  between  the  lines,  to  see  the  sad 
expression  on  the  faces  of  the  men.  tears  stealing  their  way  down 
the  bronzed  cheeks  of  the  veterans  who  knew  not  fear,  who  wept 
now  at  the  loss  of  their  old  commander,  so  endeared  to  them. 
Some  left  the  ranks,  rushed  into  the  road  and  begged  him  to  stay, 
even  seizing  his  horse.  The  General  was  deeply  affected ;  he  said, 
"I  wish  you  to  stand  by  General  Burnside  as  you  have  stood  by 
me,  and  all  will  be  well.  Good-bye",  and  rode  on.  The  men  re- 
turned to  camp  greatly  depressed,  feeling  keenly  their  loss.  Those 
who  were  there  will  never  forget  that  sight  and  its  effects,  as 
witnessed  by  them  on  that  day.  None  of  his  successors  ever 
won  from  the  men  such  enthusiasm.  No  matter  how  tired,  if 
hardly  able  to  get  along  from  the  fatigues  of  the  march,  plodding 
through  Virginia  clay  or  mud,  covered  with  dust  or  suffering 
from  the  intense  heat,  let  the  word  pass  along  the  line.  "Here 
comes  'Little  Mac'  ",  and  every  man  would  straighten  up,  take 
his  place  in  line  and  greet  him  with  cheers.  The  writer  felt  the 
same  depression,  and  feared  that  great  injury  was  done  our  cause 
at  that  time  by  that  removal,  which  the  subsequent  defeat  of 
Burnside  at  Fredericksburg  and  Hooker  at  Chancellorsville  clear- 
ly demonstrated.  While  McClellan  perhaps  did  not  do  all  that 
was  required  of  him.  it  must  be  remembered  what  difficulties  he 
had  to  contend  against.  He  had  taken  a  new  army,  just  from 
the  pursuits  of  civil  life,  and  made  veterans  of  them, and  forced  the 
enemy  back  on  his  capital,  and  when  for  want  of  men  to  keep  his 
connections  complete,  was  forced  to  vield  his  ground,  he  executed 
one  of  the  most  successful  changes  of  base  on  record.  Withdraw- 
ing his  own  army  from  the  Peninsula  to  turn  it  over  to  General 
Pope  and  part  of  it  to  cover  the  retreat  of  the  defeated  army  of 


124  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

Pope,  he  was  left  without  a  command  until  he  was  called  upon 
to  reorganize  that  demoralized  army,  and  following  close  upon 
that  defeat,  with  the  victorious  enemy  invading  our  own  country 
and  threatening  the  National  Capital,  he  fought  two  important 
battles,  and  forced  them  back  within  their  own  territory,  and 
then,  having  reorganized  his  army,  developed  new  plans  of  a 
campaign,  and  having  started  to  execute  those  plans,  was  relieved 
before  having  had  the  opportunity  to  do  so. 
Colonel  Palfrey  writes : 

To  relieve  McClellan  of  his  command  so  soon  after  he  had 
forced  Lee  out  of  Maryland,  was  hard  measure.  He  had  succeed- 
ed to  the  command  when  Pope  had  been  very  badly  beaten,  and 
when  the  sound  of  the  enemy's  guns  had  been  plainly  audible  at 
Washington.  He  had  rapidly  raised  the  troops  from  a  condition  of 
much  discouragement  and  demoralization,  and  made  of  them  a 
compact  and  efficient  force.  Within  ten  days  after  he  left  Wash- 
ington, he  had  led  this  army  against  Lee's  rear-guard  in  the  South 
Mountain  passes  and  had  driven  it  from  them,  and  had  fought  a 
great  battle  against  Lee's  entire  army,  in  which  he  had  so  far 
gotten  the  advantage  that  the  Confederate  invasion  of  Maryland 
had  come  to  an  immediate  end.  He  had,  since  those  battles, 
gradually  advanced  his  army  to  a  position  in  which  it  both  in- 
terposed itself  between  Lee  and  the  capital,  and  was  at  least  fair- 
ly well  placed  for  offensive  action ; 

then  adds  why  he  thought  he  lost  his  command,  by 

"His  delays  on  the  Peninsula",  "His  acrimonious  correspond- 
ence", being  a  "political  general",  and  the  probable  Democratic 
candidate  for  the  Presidency. 

So  the  "young  Napoleon",  the  popular  idol  of  1861,  was  removed 
from  the  command  of  the  army  for  which  he  had  done  so  much, 
and  while  it  seemed  that  hard  measure  was  meted  to  him,  there  is 
more  ground  for  sympathy  than  there  is  for  wonder. 

and  further  on  adds  : 

He  was  a  courteous  gentleman.  Not  a  word  was  ever  said 
against  his  way  of  life  nor  his  personal  integrity.  No  orgies  dis- 
graced his  headquarters  while  he  was  in  command.  His  capacity 
and  energy  as  an  organizer  are  universally  recognized.  He  was 
an  excellent  strategist,  and  in  many  respects  an  excellent  soldier. 
*  *  *  He  was  the  best  commander  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  ever 
had.  No  one  would  think  for  a  moment  of  comparing  Pope  or 
Burnside  or  Hooker  with  him. 


1862]  McCLELLAN  RELIEVED  125 

And  I  would  further  add  that  I  firmly  believe,  that  had  Mc- 
Clellan  been  better  supported  by  those  over  him,  as  well  as  those 
under  him,  for  there  was  a  lack  of  support  by  some  of  his  junior 
generals,  and  left  to  carry  out  his  own  plans,  much  better  results 
would  have  been  accomplished,  and  the  only  fault  would  have 
been,  that  perhaps  he  would  have  taken  too  long  to  accomplish 
them.  He  had  worked  his  way,  driving  the  enemy  before  him, 
until  June  I,  1862  found  him  in  front  of  Richmond,  holding 
Mechanicsville  at  the  crossing  of  the  Chickahominy  on  his  right, 
covering  his  base  of  supplies  at  White  House  on  the  Pamunkey, 
and  extending  across  the  Chickahominy  to  White  Oak  Swamp  on 
his  left,  and  had  less  than  100,000  men.  This  he  thought  was 
insufficient  to  attack  their  works,  and  was  also  so  believed,  by  all 
of  his  "non-self-seeking  Generals",  the  rule  being  three  to  one. 
He, therefore,  pleaded  with  the  Administration  to  send  McDowell's 
forty  thousand  men,  then  at  Fredericksburg,  to  join  his  right, 
to  protect  his  supplies  and  enable  him  to  withdraw  his  right  wing 
to  the  Richmond  side  to  attack.  It  was  refused.  He  persisted 
for  twenty-five  days,  and  received  McCall's  Division  of  only 
10,000,  and  an  order  was  issued  for  McDowell  to  advance  on 
Richmond,  McClellan  to  co-operate. 

Bryant  reports : 

That  the  returns   of  June   14th   showed   158.838  men,  of  whom 
1 15.152  were  present  for  duty. 

This  includes  the  Division  of  McCall,  but  I  still  think,  with 
that  Division  included,  he  did  not  have  100,00  effective  men. 

He  extended  his  right  to  Hanover,  hut  McDozvell  failed  to 
connect,  but  sent  his  troops  up  the  valley  after  Jackson,  who 
slipped  b}'  him  at  Fredericksburg  and  turned  McClellan's  right 
back  upon  his  base  of  supplies,  necessitating  a  change  of  base  to 
the  James.  As  Richmond,  the  enemy's  capital,  and  the  army  there 
concentrated  was  the  military  objective  point  of  the  war,  by  con- 
centrating the  army  of  the  Potomac  on  the  Richmond  side  of  the 
Chickahominy,  they  could  have  gone  into  Richmond  without  per- 
adventure,  with  his  base  of  supplies  intact.  It  held  the  army  and 
the  capital  of  the  Confederacy  by  the  throat,  only  five  miles  off. 
It  never  approached  so  near  again  until  they  evacuated  it.     The 


126  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

war  might  have  closed  in  July,  1862,  but  its  base  was  gone,  and 
''Napoleon  never  fought  an  attack  without  a  base",  and  was  com- 
pelled to  withdraw. 

On  November  7,  1862,  McClellan,  with  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac, 140,000  strong,  had  pierced  Lee's  army  near  Warrenton, 
Longstreet  being  at  Culpepper,  when  Lee,  with  Jackson  and  Hill, 
was  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  across  the  mountains,  two  days' 
march  apart.  The  passes  of  the  mountains  were  held  by  Mc- 
Clellan, who  was  advancing  on  Longstreet,  but  ten  miles  away, 
when  suddenly  he  was  relieved  from  command  and  the  enemy 
permitted  to  concentrate,  their  army  again  released  and  his  capital 
saved.  The  war  might  have  closed  in  December,  1862.  These 
are  historical  facts  fairly  stated. 

War  has  two  objectives,  one  political  and  the  other  military. 
The  military  objective  was  the  enemy's  capital  and  the  armv 
covering  it.  To  destroy  both  at  one  blow  would  have  closed  th£ 
war  and  saved  the  L^nion.  But  would  it  have  induced  the  people 
to  change  the  Constitution  and  abolish  slavery  in  1862  ?  Had  the 
Administration  assurance  of  it?  Its  fruit  was  not  then  ripe  to 
pluck,  so  that  the  end  justified  the  means? 


Captain  John  W.  Lynch. 
7,  1861.  Sept.  7,  1863. 

As  First  Lieutenant, 
-omoted  to  Captain,  Jan.  9,  1863. 
charged,  Sept.  7,  i»63.     Disability. 


Sergeant  Harry  J.  Blair. 
Sept.  2,  1861.  May  12,  1864. 

As  Corporal. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant,  Nov.  7,  1864. 

Killed  at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va  ,  May  12,  1864. 


COMPANY  C. 


Henry  H.  Spencer, 

Oct.  16,  1861.  Oct.  16,  1864. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va„  Dec.  13,  1862. 

Detailed  as  Sharpshooter,  May,  1864. 

Mustered  out,  Oct.  16,  1864. 


1862]  FREDERICKSBURG  127 


CHAPTER    XII. 

FREDERICKSBURG. 

THE  Army  of  the  Potomac,  now  under  the  command  of  Gen- 
eral A.  E.  Burnside,  was  divided  into  three  grand  divisions 
under  Generals  Sumner,  Hooker  and  Franklin.  The  right 
grand  division  commanded  by  General  E.  V.  Sumner,  was  com- 
posed of  the  Second  and  Ninth  Corps ;  the  center  grand  division 
under  General  Joseph  Hooker,  was  composed  of  the  Third  and 
Fifth  Corps ;  and  the  left  grand  division  under  General  W.  B. 
Franklin,  contained  the  First  and  Sixth  Corps.  Each  division 
was  accompanied  with  a  large  force  of  artillery,  making  Burn- 
side's  full  force  to  number  127,574  officers  and  men. 

The  Second  Corps  was  commanded  by  General  D.  X.  Couch, 
the  First  Division  by  General  W.  H.  French,  the  Second  Division 
by  General  ( ).  O.  Howard,  and  the  Third  Division  by  General  W. 
S.  Hancock.  Of  our  Division,  the  First  Brigade  was  command- 
ed by  General  Alfred  Sully,  the  Second  Brigade  by  General  J. 
T.  Owen,  and  the  Third  Brigade  by  Colonel  Norman  A.  Hall. 
Coming  down  to  the  Regiments  of  our  Brigade,  we  find  the  Sixty- 
Ninth  commanded  by  Lievitenant-Colonel  D.  O'Kane.  the  Seventy- 
First  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  Markoe,  the  Seventy-Second  by 
Colonel  D.  W.  C.  Baxter,  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  by 
Colonel  T.  G.  Morehead. 

Sumner's  grand  division  remained  around  Warrenton until  Nov- 
ember 15th,  when  they  advanced,  passing  Warrenton  Junction, 
pushed  on.  and  arrived  at  Falmouth  on  the  Rappahannock  river 
opposite  Fredericksburg  on  the  17th,  and  encamped,  not,  however, 
without  first  having  to  contend  for  our  ground,  as  the  enemy 
opened  on  us  as  soon  as  we  came  in  sight,  from  their  batteries 
on  the  heights  in  rear  of  the  city.  Pettit's  Battery  was  soon  run 
into  position  on  the  hills  above  Falmouth,  and  by  a  few  well  dir- 
ected shots,  silenced  them. 

Our  Regiment  left  camp  near  Warrenton  early  on  the  morning 
of  the  15th,  marched  past  the  Junction  and  camped,  marching 


128  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

about  eleven  miles.  On  the  i6th,  we  marched  about  eighteen 
miles,  and  on  the  17th  about  eight  miles  to  Falmouth,  making 
about  forty  miles  in  two  days  and  a  half,  and  camped  in  the  woods 
on  the  hills  about  the  town. 

General  Sumner  was  anxious  to  cross  at  once  and  charge  the 
heights,  it  being  clearly  demonstrated  that  but  a  small  force  of 
the  enemy  then  occupied  them,  but  General  Burnside  preferred 
to  wait  until  his  whole  army  was  concentrated  and  ready  to  move 
together,  and  until  the  train  of  pontoons  that  was  to  be  sent  him 
from  Washington  should  arrive,  and  thus  give  him  ample  facilities 
to  cross  a  large  force.  The  delay  of  the  arrival  of  the  pontoons, 
which  was  not  until  the  25th,  afforded  the  enemy  ample  oppor- 
tunity to  divine  our  object  and  greatly  reinforce  their  troops 
stationed  there,  as  well  as  to  strengthen  their  position. 

On  the  19th,  our  old  Brigade  Commander,  General  W.  W. 
Burns,  who  had  recently  been  promoted  and  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  First  Division  of  the  Ninth  Corps,  passed  our  camp 
with  his  new  command.  Our  boys  had  not  forgotten  that  he  was 
but  recently  their  commander ;  it  soon  spread  through  the  camp 
that  "Billy  Burns"  was  passing,  and  nearly  the  whole  brigade 
thronged  to  the  road  and  greeted  him  with  cheers  as  he  passed. 

For  nearly  a  month  our  troops  were  fast  concentrating  in  the 
vicinity  of  Falmouth.  Communication  was  opened  by  railroad 
with  Aquia  Creek,  which  was  the  main  depot  of  supplies  for  our 
army,  and  they  were  quickly  and  continuously  shipped  to  the 
temporary  depots  and  dispensing  stations  along  its  line  and  at 
Falmouth,  coming  by  steamers  and  transports  from  Washington 
to  Aquia  Creek. 

The  enemy  were  also  improving  their  time.  They  were  fast 
reinforcing  their  army,  and  fortifying  their  position  on  the 
heights,  a  range  of  broken  hills,  running  parallel  with  the  river 
immediately  in  the  rear  of  the  city,  north,  until  they  strike  the  river 
as  it  makes  a  turn  west  of  Falmouth,  and  southeasterly  for  about 
five  miles  below  the  city,  and  near  to  the  Massaponax  River. 
That  portion  immediately  in  the  rear  of  the  center  of  the  city 
was  known  as  Marye's  Heights. 

On  November  21st,  General  Sumner  made  a  formal  demand  of 
the  Mayor  and  Councils  of  Fredericksburg  for  the  surrender  of 


1862]  FREDERICKSBURG  129 

the  city.  This  they  declined  to  do,  for  they  were  powerless,  as 
the  Confederate  commanders  said  they  would  not  occupy  the  town 
themselves  nor  permit  our  troops  to  do  so ;  but  they  finally  did 
occupy  it  with  their  sharpshooters  and  riflemen. 

Every  preparation  was  now  pushed  rapidly  forward  to  force  the 
passage  of  the  river,  secure  a  landing  in  the  town,  and  force  its 
surrender.  This  their  artillery  could  do  little  to  prevent,  but  the 
great  difficulty  would  be  to  clean  out  their  sharpshooters,  who 
now  filled  the  town.  The  pontoons  were  brought  up,  concealed 
from  the  view  of  the  enemy,  and  made  ready,  and  by  December  loth, 
all  arrangements  were  completed,  and  Burnside  ready  to  take  the 
ofifensive.  Our  army  now  numbered  about  113,000  effective  men 
ready  for  action,  the  largest  proportion  of  these  being  with  Frank- 
lin on  the  left,  as  in  addition  to  his  two  corps,  the  First  and  Sixth, 
he  had  two  divisions  of  the  Third,  those  of  Birney  and  Sickles, 
Burns'  Division  of  the  Ninth  Corps,  and  Bayard's  Cavalry.  Gen- 
eral Hunt,  our  Chief  of  Artillery,  had  placed  in  position  on  the 
heights  from  Falmouth  south,  147  guns,  including  seven  45^ -inch 
siege  guns,  and  twenty-two  20-pound  Parrots.  The  estimated 
force  of  the  enemy  under  Lee  was  about  78,000,  with  numerous 
artillery,  all  strongly  entrenched. 

At  3  o'clock  on  Thursday  morning,  the  nth  of  December,  we 
were  ordered  under  arms,  a  gun  fired  in  the  direction  of  the  river 
being  the  signal.  At  4  o'clock,  additional  shots  were  fired  by 
our  artillery,  quickly  followed  by  a  volley  of  musketry.  Our 
engineers  were  now  at  work  laying  the  pontoon  bridges,  it  being 
decided  to  throw  two  or  three  across  the  river  at  different  points, 
one  immediately  in  front  of  the  city.  Covered  by  darkness  until 
daylight,  and  for  some  time  afterwards  by  a  heavy  fog,  they  were 
far  towards  completion  before  discovered,  but  as  soon  as  the  fog 
lifted,  their  sharpshooters  became  aware  of  our  intentions,  and 
opened  fire  with  terrible  effect,  driving  our  men  from  that  one 
in  front  of  the  city,  and  compelling  its  abandonment,  though 
several  attempts  were  made  to  complete  it.  To  insure  its  com- 
pletion the  town  must  be  cleared.  This  could  only  be  done  by 
artillery.  Then  followed  a  terrific  cannonade  for  several  hours. 
General  Hunt  directed  his  fire  chiefly  at  the  houses  used  as  places 
of  concealment  by  the  riflemen,  and  although  he  brought  to  bear 


130  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

all  the  batteries  that  he  had  placed  in  position  the  night  before, 
immediately  facing  the  city,  concentrating  his  fire  and  pouring 
into  it  a  perfect  storm  of  shot  and  shell,  the  men  still  remained, 
and  at  every  attempt  to  complete  the  bridge  renewed  their  fire 
and  drove  oiir  men  away.  The  remaining  bridges  down  the  river 
were,  however,  completed  with  little  opposition,  and  the  troops 
were  crossing  and  taking  position  in  the  plain  below  the  city. 

At  6  o'clock  we  were  moved  from  our  camp  about  two  miles 
down  the  river  and  massed  under  the  cover  of  the  Staft'ord  Hills, 
near  the  river,  opposite  the  point  wdiere  the  bridge  was  being 
laid,  loaded  and  stacked  arms,  and  rested  and  awaited  orders. 
As  has  been  stated,  our  Brigade  was  now  commanded  by  Brig- 
adier General  Joshua  T.  Ow^en,  recently  promoted  from  Colonel 
of  the  Sixty-Ninth  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  and  Colonel  More- 
head  commanded  the  Regiment.  Our  Color-Sergeant,  B.  F.  Sloan- 
aker,  having  been  promoted  to  Lieutenant  for  gallant  services 
at  the  battle  of  Antietam.  the  colors  were  now  placed  in  the  care 
of  Corporal  J.  N.  Radcliff,  of  Company  C,  acting  Color-Sergeant, 
who  carried  them  successfully  through  this  battle. 

All  morning  passed,  and  afternoon  was  fast  passing  way,  and 
still  no  orders  to  advance  w'ere  received,  no  headway  gained ;  the 
bridge  could  not  be  completed,  although  only  a  few  boats  were 
needed.  General  Howard  held  a  consultation  with  some  of  the 
officers,  and  it  was  suggested  to  attempt  to  cross  some  men  over 
in  boats,  and  thus  force  a  landing.  General  Howard  sought  Gen- 
eral Burnside  to  consult  him,  and  they  agreed  to  make  the  attempt, 
and  about  3.30  o'clock  detachments  of  the  Seventh  Michigan, 
under  Colonel  Harry  Baxter,  and  the  First  Minnesota,  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Adams,  were  ordered  forward,  and,  embark- 
ing in  pontoon  boats,  pushed  for  the  opposite  shore ;  soon  effected 
a  landing,  and  quickly  drove  the  sharpshooters  from  their  shelter 
at  the  river  bank,  capturing  many  before  they  got  away,  but  could 
make  no  further  headway  into  the  town,  so,  holding  the  river  bank 
near  where  they  landed,  they  protected  the  engineers,  who  were 
enabled  to  finish  the  bridge,  and  the  balance  of  Hall's  Brigade 
crossed,  followed  by  our  Brigade,  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
leading,  which  in  turn  was  followed  by  the  First  Brigade,  our 
entire   division.     These  were   the   only   troops  that   crossed  that 


1862]  FREDERICKSBURG  131 

night.  As  soon  as  our  Brigade  landed,  it  was  formed  in  line  on 
the  left  of  the  bridge  down  along  the  river  bank,  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth  Regiment  being  on  the  left  of  the  line,  and  General 
Owen  at  once  ordered  details  of  each  regiment  to  deploy  as  skir- 
mishers and  drive  the  enemy  out  of  the  town.  Companies  B  and 
G  of  our  Regiment  were  at  once  thrown  forward,  also  a  detach- 
ment of  Company  H  under  Lieutenant  Hassett,  and  with  similar  de- 
tails from  the  other  regiments,  endeavored  to  clear  the  town.  This 
they  found  a  rather  difficult  task,  it  then  being  dark.  The  enemy 
had  the  advantage,  knowing  the  locality,  and  from  their  sheltered 
positions  in  the  houses  and  behind  walls  were  able  to  inflict  con- 
siderable damage,  especially  upon  Hall's  Brigade  on  the  right. 
After  contesting  each  foot  of  ground,  they  fell  back  two  squares 
from  the  river  and  made  a  determined  stand.  Our  skirmishers 
were  quickly  reinforced,  and,  by  a  flank  movement  on  the  left 
through  some  houses  and  side  streets,  outflanked  them,  made 
many  prisoners  and  completely  routed  the  balance,  and  by  ten 
o'clock  had  complete  possession  of  the  entire  built-up  portion  of 
the  city,  and  the  firing  ceased.  We  had  captured  about  lOO 
prisoners,  and  six  bags  of  mail  matter.  One  of  the  prisoners,  in 
passing  Colonel  Morehead,  said.  "Old  man,  I  see  you  are  alive 
yet.  I  had  four  good  shots  at  you,  and  don't  see  how  it  is  I  did 
not  hit  you".  This  caused  the  "old  man"  to  thunder  forth,  "You 
scoundrel,  you",  as  the  "reb"  passed  to  the  rear. 

While  this  skirmishing  was  going  on,  the  balance  of  the  com- 
mand was  still  along  the  river  bank.  Immediately  in  front  of 
our  Regiment  was  a  small  house,  and  a  light  was  seen  to  glimmer 
through  a  window.  Thinking  that  some  of  the  enemy  was  still 
concealed  there  and  unable  to  get  away,  a  detail  was  sent  to  in- 
vestigate. As  soon  as  an  effort  was  made  to  gain  admittance, 
the  light  was  put  out.  Upon  insisting  on  an  entrance,  the  door 
was  opened  by  a  female,  who,  when  she  found  it  was  the  "Yankees", 
threw  up  her  hands,  saying:  "Bless  de  Lord",  and  called  for  a 
light.  It  was  then  found  that  about  a  dozen  negroes,  male  and 
female,  were  crowded  in  that  room.  The  cellar  door  was  then 
opened,  and  about  as  many  more  came  up  out  of  there,  making 
about  twenty  that  had  sought  shelter  and  remained  hid  all  day  in 
that  cellar,  to  escape  the  cannonading.     They  were  perfectly  safe. 


132  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

as  the  river  bank  was  so  steep  that  houses  built  facing  on  the  first 
street  above  would  have  their  first  story  there,  the  second  on  the 
river  front ;  and  this  one  was  so  near  the  river  that  our  guns  could 
not  be  depressed  enought  to  affect  it,  and  the  shots  of  the  Con- 
federates could  not  penetrate  into  that  cellar.  Colonel  Morehead 
took  possession  of  the  house  for  his  headquarters.  As  soon  as 
the  firing  ceased,  these  people  separated,  and  went  to  their  own 
houses,  leaving  the  owner  of  the  house,  his  wife,  and  two  children 
alone.  They  did  all  they  could  to  make  the  Colonel  comfortable, 
and  soon  had  a  good  hot  supper  prepared  for  him,  and  I  was 
fortunate  enough  to  be  invited  to  share  it.  This  invitation  I  lost 
no  time  in  accepting,  as  I  had  had  nothing  to  eat  since  early  in 
the  morning,  except  a  dry  "hardtack".  We  both  did  ample 
justice  to  their  liberality.  They  were  all  very  light  mulattoes, 
and  the  two  daughters  were  very  pretty  girls.  The  man  was  a 
carpenter,  and  had  been  allowed  by  his  master  to  work  at  his 
trade  in  the  town  until  he  had  earned  enough  to  purchase  his  own 
freedom ;  and  continuing,  he  finally  purchased  the  freedom  of  his 
wife  and  children.  He  then  built  and  bought  the  house  in  which 
they  lived,  and  was  now  glad  to  get  within  the  Union  lines ;  and 
when  subsequently  they  heard  that  we  were  evacuating  the  town, 
hastily  packed  up  all  their  things  they  could  carry,  crossed  the 
river,  and  made  for  Washington,  and  thence  on  to  Columbia,  Pa., 
where  they  had  some  relatives  living. 

Quite  a  number  of  the  other  inhabitants  remained  intheir  houses, 
and  also  sought  shelter  in  their  cellars  or  crowded  in  those  lower 
stories  formed  by  the  steep  bank  of  the  river.  Many  made  very 
narrow  escapes  by  the  crashing  through  the  walls  of  shot  or 
shell,  while  others  less  fortunate  were  more  or  less  injured  by 
the  explosion  of  an  occasional  shell  or  the  falling  of  some  portion 
of  the  house,  though  I  did  not  see  or  hear  of  any  lives  being  lost, 
the  fire  of  our  batteries  being  chiefly  directed  at  those  houses  along 
and  near  the  river  front,  to  dislodge  the  sharpshooters.  A  num- 
ber of  the  houses  had  caught  fire  from  the  cannonading,  and 
others  were  carelessly  set  on  fire;  so  that  many  buildings  were 
destroyed.  Among  them  was  the  Bank  of  Virginia.  Our  men 
at  once  set  to  work  to  extinguish  the  flames,  but  only  succeeded 
in  preventing  their  spreading.     This  was  very  much  enjoyed  by 


1862]  FREDERICKSBURG  133 

the  members  of  the  Seventy-Second  Regiment,  composed  ahiiost 
exchisively  of  members  of  the  Vohmteer  Fire  Companies  of  Phil- 
adelphia, who  almost  imagined  they  were  "fighting  the  elements" 
at  home,  only  they  did  not  have  their  favorite  "machine".  But 
the  "Fairmount",  "Good  Will",  "Philadelphia",  "States",  "In- 
dependence" and  "Moya"  boys  turned  in  together,  and  did  good 
work. 

Now  followed  a  general  ransacking  of  the  town ;  houses  and 
stores  were  broken  into,  and  their  contents  appropriated  or  de- 
stroyed ;  quantities  of  valuables  as  well  as  necessities  were  found, 
left  by  the  citizens  in  their  haste  to  leave  the  city.  Among  them 
were  large  quantities  of  tobacco  and  liquors  ;  men  were  seen  carry- 
ing whole  boxes  of  tobacco,  and  canteens  were  filled  with  wines 
and  other  liquors ;  provisions  taken  from  groceries,  clothes  from 
clothiers,  jewelry  from  jewelers,  and  even  money  from  the  bank. 
Two  or  three  men  I  saw  with  their  haversacks  full  of  Confederate 
notes,  that  were  afterwards  used  to  buy  many  a  chicken,  pie,  or 
loaf  of  bread  during  our  subsequent  marches  through  Virginia. 
Private  dwellings  were  entered,  and  at  first  groups  would  be 
seen  examining  the  furniture,  books,  pictures,  etc.,  others  amus- 
ing themselves  playing  the  piano,  to  be  followed  by  others  to 
carry  ofif  such  things  as  struck  their  fancy,  only  to  be  dropped  at 
the  next  house  for  something  else,  and  finally  to  destroy  what 
they  could  not  take  away.  My  heart  was  saddened  by  the  destruc- 
tion I  witnessed.  In  one  large  mansion,  from  which  the  large 
furniture  had  not  been  removed,  I  saw  a  large  handsome  piano 
with  the  lid  torn  off  and  broken  to  pieces  on  the  floor,  and  the 
strings  ripped  loose  from  the  frame,  costly  vases  swept  from-  the 
mantels  and  dashed  to  pieces  on  the  floor,  bayonets  thrust  through 
pictures  and  family  portraits,  mirrors  smashed  with  butt  of 
musket,  and,  as  the  night  wore  on,  those  coming  after,  finding 
nothing  else  to  destroy,  the  beds  were  ripped  open  and  the  rooms 
filled  with  feathers  and  hair ;  trunks  were  rifled,  dishes  broken, 
and  even  the  gas  fixtures  and  window  sashes  broken.  Many 
things  were  thrown  into  the  street  to  be  carried  off  by  the  next 
comer,  to  be  dropped  at  the  next  place  for  something  else.  Many 
secured  valuables  worth  possessing,  among  them  were  eighteen 
gold  and  sixteen  silver  watches,  a  diamond  ring,  silver  ice  cream 


134  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

knife,  forks  and  spoons,  handsomely  bound  books,  and  some  got 
our  own  money,  one  man  getting  about  $400  in  specie  and  an- 
other abut  $200 ;  these,  with  the  many  httle  articles  that  could 
be  conveniently  carried,  were  packed  in  the  knapsacks,  taken  to 
camp  as  trophies  of  war  and  subsequently  sent  home.  Others  se- 
cured eatables,  and  men  would  be  seen  with  a  jar  of  pickles  in  one 
hand  and  preserves  in  the  other.  No  effort  seemed  to  be  made  to 
arrest  this  wholesale  destruction  until  the  destroyers  seemed 
tired  of  their  own  wantonness. 

This  unfortunate  necessity,  or  calamity,  that  generally  follows 
the  occupation  of  a  besieged  town  by  the  victors,  was,  no  doubt, 
hastened  and  continued,  first  by  the  absence  of  the  owners,  as 
in  no  case  did  I  see  or  hear  of  any  forced  entrance  being  made 
into  occupied  premises,  and  secondly  by  the  effect  of  liquor  found, 
of  which  there  seemed  to  be  no  scarcity  for  those  who  sought  it ; 
one  large  wholesale  store  that  was  broken  into  contained  the 
customary  number  of  large  casks,  arranged  on  each  side,  with  fine 
polished  spigots  and  hoops ;  the  spigots  were  turned  on,  and  the 
floor  flooded  two  or  three  inches  deep  with  the  many  kinds  of 
liquors  and  wines  that  the  casks  contained,  and  flowed  out  into 
the  street ;  men  drank  what  they  wanted,  filled  their  canteens  for 
subsequent  use  and  hurried  on  for  other  sights,  or  to  assist  in 
the  destruction  of  that  which  they  had  no  use  for.  A  large  drug 
store  was  similarly  treated ;  the  large  vials  were  swept  from  the 
shelves  and  broken  to  pieces  on  the  floor,  and  their  contents  mixed 
without  any  regard  to  proportions,  or  chemical  affinity  or  action, 
covering  the  floor  with  a  homogeneous  mass  that  would  be  hard 
to  describe. 

I  am  happy  to  record,  as  I  have  previously  stated,  that  so  far 
as  my  observation  went  or  I  could  learn  from  others,  none  of  the 
houses  that  were  at  all  occupied  were  in  any  manner  molested, 
nor  any  of  the  citizens  insulted  or  maltreated.  Even  those  citizens 
that  had  remained  in  the  town,  and  the  negroes,  seemed  to  join 
in  appropriating  their  neighbors'  property,  increasing  their  own 
possessions  at  the  expense  of  their  neighbors.  What  the  result 
would  be  upon  the  return  of  the  rightful  owners  would  be  hard 
to  conjecture.  There  was  also  a  ludicrous  side;  men  dressed  in 
the  apparel  of  both  sexes  paraded  around  singly  or  in  groups, 


1862]  FREDERICKSBURG  135 

partly  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  forgetful  of  the  danger 
through  which  they  had  just  passed,  or  that  which  awaited  them 
on  the  morrow ;  they  gave  themselves  up  to  the  enjoyment  of  the 
present,  and  well  did  they  seem  to  enjoy  themselves  and  give 
amusement  to  others. 

The  writer  secured  a  price  list  in  one  of  the  stores,  which  is 
copied  here,  to  show  even  at  that  date,  the  end  of  the  first  year  of 
the  war,  how  ver}^  high  the  provisions  were :  tea,  $30  per  pound ; 
cofiFee,  $5.00  ;  sugar,  $1.50 ;  candles,  $1.00  ;  rice,  $1.25  ;  salt,  $1.75  ; 
fresh  pork,  75  cts. ;  chickens,  $5.00  per  pair;  beans,  $3.00  per 
bushel ;  molasses,  $7.00  per  gallon  ;  flour.  $25.00  per  barrel ;  calico, 
$1.25  and  $1.50  per  yard,  and  scarce;  potatoes,  $6.00  per  bushel, 
if  any  could  be  found. 

Our  Division  was  the  only  troops  that  crossed  that  night  and 
remained  in  line  along  the  river  bank,  which,  being  steep,  afforded 
ample  protection.  The  skirmishers  or  pickets  were  thrown  for- 
ward to  the  other  side  of  the  city.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the 
1 2th  the  line  was  advanced  and  formed  on  the  second  street  from, 
and  running  parallel  with  the  river,  called  Caroline  street,  and  the 
pickets  were  advanced  to  and  beyond  the  built-up  portion  of  the 
city,  but  not  without  meeting  with  considerable  resistance.  All  day 
long  additional  troops  were  crossing,  until  Sumner's  entire  Grand 
Division  and  one  Corps,  the  Fifth,  of  Hooker's  Grand  Division. 
The  Third  Corps,  and  one  Division  of  the  Fifth  Corps  having 
joined  General  Franklin,  crossed  with  him  on  the  left  below  the 
city.  The  enemy  made  little  effort  to  interfere,  except  to  oc- 
casionally drop  a  shell  into  the  troops  as  they  were  approaching 
the  bridge,  especially  into  one  of  the  new  regiments  that  marched 
down  to  the  bridge  with  their  band  playing  "Yankee  Doodle". 
But  one  or  two  shells  dropped  among  them  suddenly  brought 
that  tune  to  an  end.  sent  the  band  flying  in  every  direction,  and 
told  with  fatal  effect  upon  some  of  the  members  of  the  Regiment. 
There  were  no  other  bands  that  ventured  to  play  as  they  came  over 
that  hill  down  to  the  river.  The  firing  of  the  artillery  at  inter- 
vals during  the  day  was  all  the  fighting  that  was  done  that  day. 

Early  on  Saturd3y  morning,  December  13th,  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg  began  by  the  advance  of  General  Franklin's  forces 
on  the  left.     General  Meade's  Division  was  pushed  forward  until 


136  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

they  reached  the  new  mihtary  road  that  General  Lee  had  con- 
structed for  better  communication  with  the  different  wings  of  his 
army,  driving  the  enemy  before  them  and  capturing  about  two 
hundred  prisoners  and  several  colors.  Here  they  met  a  much 
larger  force,  and  their  artillery  on  the  left  opened  a  flank  fire. 
Meade  was  forced  back  with  heavy  loss.  General  Gibbon  ad- 
vanced his  Division  to  Meade's  assistance  on  his  right  and  a  bri- 
gade of  Birney's  Division  on  the  left ;  but  these  combined  forces 
were  not  able  to  stand  that  artillery  fire  and  the  heavy  infantry  force 
thrown  against  them,  and  were  driven  back  in  more  or  less  con- 
fusion, sustaining  heavy  loss.  The  balance  of  Birney's  Division 
was  thrown  into  the  breach,  and  succeeded  in  checking  the  ad- 
vance of  the  enemy  and  holding  their  ground.  So  the  morning 
passed,  and  no  advantage  gained. 

The  attempt  to  carry  the  heights  on  the  right  and  in  rear  of 
the  town  was  then  to  be  made.  About  eleven  o'clock  General 
Sumner  was  ordered  to  advance,  getting  his  instructions  from 
the  following  order,  which  he  received  in  the  morning: 

The  General  commanding  directs  that  you  extend  the  left  of 
your  command  to  Deep  Run,  connecting  with  General  Franklin, 
extending  your  right  as  far  as  your  judgment  may  dictate.  He 
also  directs  that  you  push  a  column  of  a  division  or  more  along 
the  plank  and  telegraph  roads,  with  a  view  to  seizing  the  heights 
in  rear  of  the  town.  The  latter  movement  should  be  well  covered 
with  skirmishers,  and  supported  so  as  to  keep  its  line  of  retreat 
well  open.  Copy  of  instructions  given  to  General  Franklin  will 
be  sent  to  you  very  soon.  You  will  please  await  them  at  your  pre- 
sent headquarters,  where  he  (the  General  commanding)  will  meet 
you.  Great  care  should  be  taken  to  prevent  a  collision  of  our  own 
forces  during  the  fog.  The  watchword  for  the  day  will  be  "Scott". 
The  column  for  a  movement  up  the  telegraph  and  plank  roads  will 
be  got  in  readiness  to  move,  but  will  not  move  till  the  General 
commanding  communicates  with  you. 

French's  Division  of  the  Second  Corps  was  the  Division  "to 
push  along  the  plank  and  telegraph  roads"  and  the  first  to  charge 
the  heights  immediately  back  of  the  city,  know  as  Marye's 
Heights,  which,  as  has  been  stated,  the  enemy  had  strongly  forti- 
fied, in  addition  to  the  natural  defence  presented  by  nature,  and 
had  a  lartre  force  defending  them,  a  stone-wall  at  the  base  of  the 


1862]  FREDERICKSBURG  137 

hill  serving  as  rifle  pits  for  their  first  line,  and  about  half  way  up 
the  heights  earthworks  were  thrown  up  for  their  second  line, 
which  completely  commanded  the  first  line  should  they  be  driven 
from  it.  Against  all  this  our  attack  was  to  be  made,  and  to  reach 
them  we  would  be  compelled  to  pass  over  open  ground,  with  no 
protection  whatever  from  their  numerous  guns  planted  on  the 
heights  above.  French,  wnth  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers,  ad- 
vanced out  the  telegraph  and  plank  roads,  crossing  the  canal  on 
the  two  small  bridges  by  which  these  two  roads  cross,  and  formed 
his  line  and  charged.  As  soon  as  they  passed  from  the  cover  of 
the  town  they  were  met  with  a  terrific  fire  of  shot  and  shell  from 
the  enemy's  artillery,  and,  as  they  approached  their  first  line,  with 
volley  after  volley  from  the  men  behind  the  stone-wall.  This 
they  could  not  stand,  and  fell  back.  Hancock's  Division,  which 
was  supporting  French,  and  following  him  closely,  was  hurried 
forward.  Meagher's  Irish  Brigade  was  first  quickly  formed, 
and  charged  almost  to  the  stone-wall,  stood  that  terrible  fire  for 
a  few  minutes,  then  retired,  and  with  them  came  all  of  French's 
and  Hancock's  troops,  and  were  withdrawn  to  a  ravine  just  in 
rear  of  the  battlefield.  Then  came  Howard's  turn,  with  the  Sec- 
ond Division.  He  met  General  Miles,  of  Hancock's  Division, 
being  carried  to  the  rear,  badly  wounded ;  he  told  Howard  where 
he  thought  he  could  best  put  in  his  division.  Advancing  from 
the  town,  left  in  front,  our  Brigade  in  advance  led  by  our  new  com- 
mander, but  old  friend.  General  Owen,  whose  bravery  and  daring 
none  dared  to  question,  and  all  knew  if  it  were  at  all  possible  he 
would  lead  his  Brigade  into  their  works,  the  One  Hundred  and 
Sixth  Regiment  on  the  lead.  Advancing  rapidly  from  the  town 
out  the  telegraph  road,  crossing  the  canal  on  the  bridge,  he  formed 
his  line,  brigade  front  to  the  right,  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
Regiment  on  the  right,  Sixty-Ninth  in  the  centre,  and  the  Seventy- 
Second  on  the  left  (the  Seventy-First  Regiment  having  been 
detached  from  the  Brigade  and  sent  to  hold  an  important  position 
on  the  right  of  the  town),  all  amid  that  terrible  fire,  that  only 
ceased,  upon  the  retreat  of  Hancock's  Division,  to  gather  fresh 
fury,  and  now  poured  into  our  line  until  it  seemed  impossible  for 
men  to  stand  before  it ;  yet  on  they  went  up  that  steep  hill,  passing 
the  line  reached  by  French  and  Hancock,  until  within  one  hundred 


138  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

yards  of  their  first  line,  but  could  go  no  further ;  halted,  and  im- 
mediately obeyed  the  order  "to  lie  down  and  hold  that  position", 
and  there  they  lay,  our  position  being  immediately  in  front  of 
Marye's  Mansion,  about  one  hundred  yards  from  the  stone-wall, 
with  the  right  of  the  Brigade  resting  on  the  turnpike  road.  There 
were  no  troops  of  either  French's  or  Hancock's  command  on  the 
ground  occupied  by  our  Brigade,  or  over  which  they  charged,  ex- 
cept their  dead  and  dying,  nor  had  we  any  support,  as  the  rest  of 
the  division  that  went  in  on  our  left  were  also  withdrawn. 

Two  other  attempts  were  made  to  capture  the  works,  and  the 
lines  advanced  only  about  the  same  distance,  to  be  forced  back 
and  compelled  to  retire  in  confusion,  carrying  some  of  our  men 
with  them.  Towards  evening  the  final  charge  w^as  made,  this 
time  by  Tyler's  Brigade  of  Humphreys'  Division  of  Butterfield's 
Corps,  led  by  Humphreys  himself;  with  bayonets  fixed,  starting 
with  cheers,  on  they  came,  passing  over  our  Brigade,  many  of 
whom  rose  to  their  feet  to  see  the  result;  on  they  went  towards 
the  works,  confident  of  success,  when  there  blazed  forth  from  be- 
hind the  stone-wall  such  a  deadly  fire,  that  could  only  be  described 
as  a  sheet  of  flame,  and  a  storm  of  bullets,  that  staggered  Hum- 
phreys' men ;  they  stop,  and  back  they  came,  unable  to  stand  that 
fire,  and  although  a  few  got  near  the  works  and  fired  a  few  ran- 
dom shots,  they  met  the  same  fate  as  those  who  had  preceded 
them  and  were  compelled  to  retire,  leaving  behind  them  about 
1.700  of  their  4.000  men.  notwithstanding  the  Herculean  efforts 
of  their  leaders  to  urge  them  forward.  In  passing  through  our 
lines  to  the  front.  General  Humphreys,  supposing  our  men  to  be 
skulkers,  accused  us  of  cowardice  in  no  very  flattering  terms, 
and  ordered  us  to  join  his  command  in  their  advance;  this  General 
Owen  refused  to  do,  knowing  from  experience  what  the  result 
would  be.  as  he  felt  confident  that  these  works  could  not  be  taken 
by  direct  assault,  and  this  advance  would  be  repulsed  as  all  the 
other  attempts  had  been,  and  should  the  enemy  then  take  the 
ofifensive  there  would  be  nothing  to  keep  them  from  entering  the 
town  in  force  and  driving  our  men  into  the  river,  as  there  was  no 
place  to  reform  the  line  if  quickly  followed  by  a  large  force  of 
the  enemy,  and  a  panic  once  started  would  be  hard  to  check  in  a 
town,  as  the  narrow  streets  would  but  add  to  the  panic ;  then,  if 


1862]  FREDERICKSBURG  ^  139 

Humphreys  were  successful  to  really  carry  the  first  line,  it  would 
be  at  such  fearful  loss  that  he  would  need  immediate  support  to 
hold  it,  and  Owen  could  at  once  advance  his  Brigade ;  so  that 
when  he  was  repulsed  and  came  back  in  confusion  through  our 
lines,  our  men  retaliated  for  his  abuse  of  us  by  compelling  large 
numbers  of  his  command  to  remain  with  us,  thus  strengthening 
our  line. 

This  ended  the  attempt  to  capture  their  works,  and  through  it 
all  our  little  band  lay  there  exposed  to  that  continual  and  fearful 
fire  of  artillery  and  infantry,  without  the  privilege  or  the  op- 
portunity to  return  the  fire,  with  no  shelter  or  protection  what- 
ever, each  charge  only  drawing  fresh  fire  on  us  and  sadly  increas- 
ing our  loss,  which  was  also  increased  by  the  misdirected  fire  of 
our  artillery  that  had  been  hastily  run  into  position  at  the  edge 
of  the  town,  and  the  premature  explosion  of  their  shells  in  their 
attempt  to  fire  over  our  heads ;  add  to  these  that  slower  but  more 
fatal  fire  of  their  sharpshooters,  many  of  whom  were  concealed 
in  the  large  mansion,  from  which  they  took  deliberate  aim  and 
picked  off  our  men  one  by  one,  especially  directing  their  fire  at 
our  officers,  easily  distinguished  by  their  uniforms  at  that  short 
distance,  besides  being  trampled  upon  at  each  charge  and  rout. 
Certainly  nothing  tested  the  courage  of  men  more  than  to  be  plac- 
ed in  such  a  position,  with  shot  and  shell  from  both  directions,  in 
front  and  in  rear,  screaming  and  tearing  over  our  heads  or 
plowing  up  the  ground  in  our  midst,  killing  and  mangling  men 
at  our  side,  the  terrible  showers  of  bullets  from  the  many  men 
that  filled  their  two  lines  of  works,  and  then  trampled  under  foot 
by  each  charge  that  was  made,  especially  upon  their  return,  their 
haste  preventing  them  using  any  care,  so  that  many  of  our  men 
were  thus  injured,  a  few  very  seriously.  Yet  there  w^e  stayed, 
compelled  to  remain  inactive,  lying  flat  on  the  cold  ground,  on 
that  cold  December  day,  with  no  chance  to  move  sufficiently  to 
circulate  the  blood  enough  to  keep  warm,  as  the  slightest  move- 
ment but  brought  on  the  deadl}-  fire  of  their  sharpshooters ;  many 
were  killed  or  wounded  by  just  raising  their  head  from  the 
ground.  All  that  long  afternoon  did  we  lie  there  so  exposed, 
until  night  drew  her  sable  mantle  around  us  and  protected  us 
from  further  slaughter. 


140  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

Colonel  Palfrey,  in  his  account  of  this  battle,  as  written  in  his 
"Antietam  and  Fredericksburg",  makes  no  mention  whatever  of 
the  charge  of  the  Philadelphia  Brigade  and  the  position  they  held 
during  the  entire  day,  but  writes  as  follows : 

French's  division,  preceded  by  a  strong  body  of  skirmishers, 
moved  out  of  the  town  by  the  two  parallel  streets  above  mention- 
ed. *  *  *  *  The  skirmishers  worked  their  way  forward,  follow- 
ed by  French's  division,  and  Hancock  pressed  on  and  came  up  with 
French,  and  joined  in  the  advance.  Hancock  estimated  that  the 
distance  the  troops  had  to  march — first  by  the  flank  through  the 
streets  of  the  town  and  across  the  bridges,  then  by  the  flank  in 
line  parallel  to  the  Confederate  works,  and  finally  in  line  to  the 
hostile  front — was  probably  seventeen  hundred  yards,  all  the  way 
mider  a  most  murderous  fire.  The  troops  were  delayed  also  by 
the  fact  that  the  planking  of  one  of  the  bridges  was  partially  taken 
up,  which  made  it  necessary  for  the  men  to  cross  on  the  stringers. 
By  the  time  French  and  Hancock  were  within  assaulting  distance, 
their  columns  were  too  much  reduced  for  the  work. 

At  one  p.  M.,  Couch,  commanding  the  Second  Corps,  ordered 
Hancock  and  French  to  carry  the  enemy's  works  by  storm.  Seeing, 
shortly,  this  could  not  be  done,  the  men  falling  by  hundreds,  he 
directed  Howard,  who  commanded  his  remaining  division,  to 
move  to  the  right  and  turn  the  enemy's  left,  but  the  order  was 
immediately  revoked  by  him,  and  Howard  was  ordered  to  support 
Hancock.  The  three  divisions  got  well  forward.  Hall's  Brigade  of 
Howard's  division  and  some  of  Hancock's  men  apparently  doing 
the  best  work  that  was  done,  but  the  difficulties  to  be  overcome 
were  too  great,  and  the  assault  failed. 

The  neglect  to  mention  the  noble  work  of  the  Philadelphia 
Brigade,  which  would  certainly  rank  it  as  good  as  any  that  was 
done  if  not  the  "best",  is  due  perhaps  that  he  was  not  so  informed, 
or  saw  no  mention  made  of  it,  as  he  states  that  "At  about  lo  a.  m. 
of  the  17th",  (Sept.)  at  Antietam,  "he  received  a  severe  wound 
from  a  canister  shot  fired  by  one  of  Stuart's  Batteries";  so  it  is 
not  probable  that  he  had  sufficiently  recovered  from  that  wound 
to  be  present  with  his  Regiment  (one  of  Hall's  Brigade)  at  Frede- 
ricksburg, and  therefore  makes  up  his  report  of  the  battle  from 
the  reports  of  others.  It  was  not  until  after  French  and  Hancock 
had  retired  that  Howard  went  in.  and  when  he  speaks  of  "Hall's 
Brigade  and  some  of  Hancock's  men",  he  must  mean  Owen's 
men  or  the  Philadelphia  Brigade,  as  none  of  Hancock's  men  re- 


1862]  FREDERICKSBURG  141 

mained  on  that  field  in  front  of  the  ravine,  just  beyond  the  canal, 
except  his  dead  and  wounded,  who  had  not  been  brought  off. 

And  all  that  Swinton  says  of  Howard's  advance,  without  even 
mentioning  the  Brigade,  as  he  does  in  Hancock's  and  French's 
Divisions,  is : 

To  relieve  Hancock's  and  French's  hard-pressed  battalions,  How- 
ard's Division  now  came  up,  and  Sturgis'  and  Getty's  Divisions 
of  the  Ninth  Corps  advanced  on  Couch's  left,  and  made  several 
attacks  in  support  of  the  brave  troops  of  the  Second  Corps,  who 
could  not  advance  and  would  not  retire. 

It  was  the  Philadelphia  Brigade,  commanded  by  General  Owen, 
that  "would  not  retire",  and  there  were  no  battalions  of  either  Han- 
cock or  French  to  relieve,  as  they  had  been  driven  back  before 
Howard  advanced,  and  Owen's  Brigade  were  the  only  troops  that 
remained  where  they  advanced. 

Of  Humphreys'  charge.  Palfrey  says: 

He  led  his  second  Brigade,  Allabach's,  rapidly  forward  to  the 
position  occupied  by  Couch's  men,  whom  he  found  in  great  numbers 
sheltering  themselves  by  lying  on  the  ground  behind  a  slight  rise, 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  stone-wall.  The  con- 
tinued presence  of  these  men  proved  a  serious  obstacle  to  his 
success.  Allabach's  men  followed  their  example  in  lying  down, 
and  opened  fire. 

After  stating  that  Humphreys  was  satisfied  that  firing  could  do 
no  good,  and  that  the  bayonet  must  be  used,  he  continues : 

With  difficulty  he  stopped  the  firing  of  his  men,  and  the  charge 
was  then  made,  but  the  deadly  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry  broke 
it  after  an  advance  of  fifty  yards. 

It  was  our  Brigade  that  ivas  in  position  and  alluded  to  as 
Couch's  men,  and  Allabach's  men  did  not  lie  down  and  commence 
firing  until  after  the  charge  was  made,  and  they  fotmd  they  could 
go  no  further  imless  it  was  on  the  left  of  our  line,  and  they  were 
compelled  to  retire  in  haste  back  to  the  ravine  from  whence  they 
started,  except  those  that  our  men  kept  with  them.  Then  re- 
ferring to  the  final  charge,  that  of  Tyler's  Brigade,  he  says : 

He  (Humphreys)  directed  them  to  disregard  these  men  entirely. 
and  to  pass  over  them.     He  ordered  the  officers  to  the  front,  and 


142  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [18G2 

(Humphreys'  own  words)  with  a  hurrah,  the  Brigade,  led  by 
General  Tyler  and  myself,  advanced  gallantly  over  the  ground, 
under  the  heaviest  fire  yet  opened,  which  poured  upon  it  from  the 
moment  it  rose  from  the  ravine.  As  the  Brigades  reached  the 
masses  of  men  referred  to,  every  effort  was  made  by  the  latter  to 
prevent  our  advance.  They  called  to  our  men  not  to  go  forward, 
and  some  attempted  to  prevent  by  force  their  doing  so.  The 
effect  upon  my  command  was  what  I  apprehended ;  the  line  was 
somewhat  disordered,  and  in  part  forced  to  form  into  a  column, 
but  still  advanced  rapidly.  The  fire  of  the  enemy's  musketry  and 
artillery,  furious  as  it  was  before,  now  became  still  hotter.  The 
stone-wall  was  a  sheet  of  flame  that  enveloped  the  head  and  flanks 
of  the  column.  Officers  and  men  were  falling  rapidly,  and  the 
head  of  the  column  was  at  length  brought  to  a  stand  when  close  to 
the  wall.  Up  to  this  time  not  a  shot  had  been  fired  by  the  column, 
but  now  some  firing  began.  It  lasted  but  a  minute,  when,  in  spite 
of  all  our  efforts,  the  column  turned  and  began  to  retire  slowly.  I 
attempted  to  rally  the  Brigade,  but  could  not  arrest  the  retiring 
mass. 

It  is  evident  that  General  Humphreys  did  not  know  that  it  was 
a  brigade  in  position  fulfilling  orders  "to  hold  that  position",  or 
he  would  not  have  referred  to  them  as  "masses  of  men  concealed 
behind  a  natural  embankment",  and  it  was  only  zvhen  he  and  some 
of  his  officers  w'ere  so  unkind  as  to  address  them  as  "cowards  and 
skulkers",  and  tried  to  force  them  into  his  line,  that  our  men 
objected,  and  told  them  they  would  not  go  much  further,  and  it 
was  as  they  came  back  that  they  used  the  force  to  keep  them  there. 
Had  General  Owen  received  the  orders  to  follow  Humphreys  or 
advance  with  him,  the  men  would  gladly  have  done  so  in  the  hopes 
of  getting  out  of  that  uncomfortable  place,  but  our  men  took  their 
orders  from  General  Owen  and  not  from  General  Humphreys, 
and  they  remained  there  long  after  all  of  Humphreys'  men  had 
retired  ;  it  was  not  their  choice,  but  it  was  obeying  orders  that 
kept  them  there.  They  were  soldiers  and  not  skulkers,  and  there- 
fore obeyed  those  orders,  and  stayed  there. 

The  following  is  a  graphic  account  of  the  valuable  services  of 
the  Philadelphia  Brigade  as  published  in  the  Philadelphia  Inquirer 
a  few  da}s  after  the  battle. 

General  Howard's  Division  having  been  the  first  to  cross  the 
river  Rappahannock,  and  to  take  and  hold  possession  of  the  city, 
was    assigned    to    the    extreme    right    of    Sumner's    right    grand 


1862]  FREDERICKSBURG  143 

division,  where  the  fighting  was  not  expected  to  be  so  severe  as  at 
the  center.  Colonel  Owens"  "Philadelphia  Brigade"  occupied  the 
right  of  Howard's  Division,  and  was  directed  to  be  ready  at  short 
notice  to  lead  the  attack,  if  one  at  that  point  was  determined  upon. 
General  French  was  to  lead  the  attack  on  the  center  and  to  be  sup- 
ported by  General  Hancock. 

At  about  9  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  Saturday,  French's  Division 
moved  toward  the  front,  and  the  struggle  commenced.  The 
troops  advanced  gradually,  driving  the  enemy's  pickets  and  skir- 
mishers. On  went  French's  Division,  and  rapidly  followed  Han- 
cock's in  support.  But  the  slaughter  was  terrible,  and  soon  some 
of  the  regiments  began  to  waver,  and  finally  to  fall  back.  Forward 
went  Hancock's  line  and  passed  to  the  front.  Louder  pealed  the 
enemy's  fire ;  more  terrible  than  before,  was  the  slaughter.  But 
little  care  had  been  taken  to  get  the  men  under  cover.  The  sup- 
porting line  seemed  to  stagger;  soon  it  must  fall  back,  and  then 
what  can  be  done  if  the  enemy  should  come  into  the  city  upon  the 
heels  of  the  fugitives?  No.  some  regiments  of  French's  and  Han- 
cock's rally  ;  the  enemy  plows  through  their  ranks  with  his  can- 
isters, round  shot  and  shell ;  his  sharpshooters  pick  off  the  officers. 
What  can  be  done  to  prevent  the  disaster  ? 

Quick,  or  all  is  lost.  General  Couch  directs  General  Howard 
to  send  for  one  of  his  brigades.  General  Howard  sends  his 
brother  to  bring  down  Colonel  Owens'  Brigade  from  the  right  on 
a  double-quick.  The  fugitives  increase  in  number — the  wounded 
are  being  brought  in  by  hundreds.  Men  jump  into  the  canal  for 
shelter  from  the  hail-storm  of  iron.  The  enemy  brings  his  guns 
to  bear  upon  the  houses  in  town.  The  fields  are  covered  with  the 
fugitive  and   with   dead  and  dying. 

The  Sixty-Ninth  cheer  the  "Battery  Boys",  and  these  in  turn 
cheer  the  "Fighting  Brigade".  On  they  come — the  colonel,  with 
his  staff   at  the  head  of  the  column,  on  his  gray  horse. 

Generals  Couch.  Howard  and  Hancock  give  him  their  directions. 
General  Hancock  tells  him  where  best  to  display  his  column. 
There  are  Baxter.  Morehead.  O'Kane.  and — and  where's  the  gal- 
lant Markoe?  Where's  the  brave  California  Regiment?  They 
are  on  picket,  and  the  brigade  feel  their  absence  keenly.  But  on 
they  go.  their  ranks  thinned  at  every  step.  They  begin  to  cross 
the  road,  swept  by  a  whole  battery  of  the  enemy's  guns.  The  Col- 
onel cries  out :  "Men,  cross  the  best  way  you  can,  and  form  on  the 
other  side  of  the  canal,  under  that  hill".  They  at  once  see  the  pro- 
priety of  the  direction.  Over  they  go  in  twos,  in  threes  and  every 
other  way,  and  yet  many  fall  to  rise  no  more.  But  see  how  well 
they  form  under  that  hill. 

Now  the  line  is  formed,  and  Colonel  Owens  draws  his  sword  and. 


144  THE  OXE  HUXDRED  AXD  SIXTH  REGIMEXT         [1862 

waving  adieus  to  the  generals  who  are  watching  him,  leaps  over 
the  fence,  crosses  the  canal,  and  rising  in  his  stirrup  gives  the 
command,   "forward !' 

Just  then  his  horse  is  shot;  instantly  he  dismounts,  and  running 
in  front  of  the  Sixty-Ninth  waves  his  sword  and  cries.  "On, 
Second  Brigade,  double-quick !"  A  shout  is  heard,  and  on  rush 
the  regiments  in  good  order.  Heavens !  what  a  fire  the  enemy 
opens !  From  the  top  of  the  hill,  from  the  sides  of  it,  and  from 
the  bottom,  behind  a  stone-wall,  and  from  three  batteries,  one  con- 
tinued shower  of  shells  and  balls  is  poured. 

But,  alas,  it  is  soon  discovered  that  the  lines,  which  Colonel 
Owens  was  to  support  with  his  brigade,  have  been  almost  annihilat- 
ed. Some  scattered  companies  and  parts  of  regiments  are  still  there 
fighting  bravel}'.  and  one  long  line  of  battle,  lying  down  two  deep, 
but  it  is  a  line  of  dead  men.  All  dead?  Yes.  all.  To  advance 
further  is  certain  destruction,  to  retreat  is  dishonor.  Here  was 
a  crisis.  Colonel  Owens  had  no  support.  If  he  was  destroyed  or 
forced  to  retreat,  the  enemy  would  rush  into  the  city  and  utter  ruin 
would  follow.  But  see !  he  halts  his  line  and  tells  his  men  to 
"lie  down,  close,  close,  close". 

He  deploys  skirmishers  into  the  contiguous  houses.  The  enemy 
is  puzzled.  They  do  not  know  what  to  make  of  it.  Their  fire 
slackens.  They  begin  to  leave  the  stone-wall.  The  sharpshoot- 
ers pick  off  their  artillerymen.  A  charge  is  attempted  by  the 
enemy.  It  is  repelled  by  the  men  rising  to  their  feet  and  deliver- 
ing such  a  volley  as  would  stagger  any  lines.  The  enemy  find  that 
they  cannot  reach  Owens'  line  with  artillery.  His  right  is  pro- 
tected by  some  houses.  In  front,  the  declevity  of  the  hill  is  so 
great  that  they  cannot  point  their  guns  to  reach  him.  In  the 
meanwhile  he  peppers  them  wherever  they  can  be  seen.  Quickly 
he  sends  his  aide  back  to  General  Howard  for  orders  what  to  do 
and  asks  for  a  battery  and  some  support  on  his  left,  and.  if 
possible,  he  will  try  to  take  the  works.  But  alone  it  is  impossible. 
He  is  told  to  hold  the  position  at  all  hazards,  and  a  battery,  to- 
gether with  infantry,  will  be  sent  to  him.  He  sends  word  back: 
"Never  fear,  I  will  hold  the  position". 

An  hour  passes.  All  honor  to  the  Second  Brigade ;  it  is  still 
there,  fighting  on  with  unbroken  ranks.  A  column  is  seen  going 
out  on  the  railroad.  It  deploys ;  it  charges  up  towards  the  enemy 
on  Owens'  left.  Gallanth-  the  line  moves  on ;  but  the  enemy  are 
evidently  reinforced,  or,  intending  to  turn  Owens'  left,  they  are 
massed  there — for,  see  what  awful  fire  of  small  arms  is  poured 
from  the  hill  and  from  behind  the  stone-wall.  The  lines  stagger 
and  fall  back  in  confusion.  Xow.  Owens'  left  will  surely  be  turn- 
ed and  his  gallant  men  be  captured  or  cut  to  pieces.     He  realizes 


Sbkgbant  Jonathan  C.  Barnes. 
Sept.  24.  1861.  Sept.  24,  1864. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal,  Sept   17.  1862. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant,  March  i,  1863. 

Discharged,  Sept.  24,  1864. 


Serge.\nt  Charles  H.  Hickok. 
Oct   16,  1861.  May  6,  1864. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal,  Dec.  12,  1862. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant.  March  i,  1863. 

Badly  injured  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  1862, 

by  being  trampled  upon  during  battle. 

Killed  at  Wildeiness,  Va.,  May  6,  1864. 


COMPANY  C. 


\ViLLi.\M  W.  Smith. 

Oct.  16,  1861.  Oct.  29,  1862. 

Wounded  at  Malvern  Hill,  Va..  July  i.  1862. 

Discharged,  Oct.  29,  1862.     Wounds. 


1862]  FREDERICKSBURG  145 

the  danger ;  he  is  preparing  for  it.  His  men  are  up.  and  pour  a 
volley  obliqueh'  to  the  left.  The  enemy  is  checked,  and  lo !  an- 
other column  appears,  greater  than  the  first. 

The  enemy  has  not  yet  seen  it,  or  is  making  new  preparations  for 
its  reception.  On  it  comes,  and  at  its  head  is  gallant  Hooker,  the 
hero  of  Glendale.  Now  butternuts  look  out.  Up  comes,  also, 
Hazzard's  First  Rhode  Island  Battery  right  in  Owens'  rear,  only 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  off.  They  blaze  away,  and 
Hooker  advances.  "One  shout  now  for  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  my 
men  !"  The  shout  mingles  with  the  roar  of  cannon  and  rattle  of 
musketry,  and  the  combat  thickens.  General  Hooker  comes  to  the 
front.  "What  men  are  you?"  "Colonel  Owens'  Brigade,  your 
honor."     "Ah,  Sixty-Ninth,  are  you  there.     Now  men.  let  us  give 

them   ."     The    earth    shook   beneath   that   tremendous    volley. 

But  Hooker's  men  break.  Another  awful  volley.  They  run.  and 
are  checked  by  Generals  Hooker  and  Humphreys  in  person. 
Again  they  advance.  Another  and  another  volley.  They  break, 
they  rally,  but  they  stagger  up  like  drunken  men. 

The  earth  shakes  again,  and  amid  that  smoke  which  envelopes 
friend  and  foe  alike,  how  many  pass  to  their  dread  account  ?  The 
smoke  clears  away.  Hooker's  column  is  gone,  and  the  battery  is 
going,  but  Owen's  line  is  still  there  and  harder  at  work  than  ever. 
One  of  his  regiments  has  left,  but  it  was  one  attached  temporarily 
to  his  brigade  that  morning.  His  brigade  proper  still  remained 
intact,  their  ammunition  nearly  expended,  but  their  bayonets  ready. 
And  there  they  stayed  until  midnight,  when  they  were  relieved 
by  Syke's  regulars.  They  may  be  proud  of  their  day's  work. 
Three  hearty  cheers  for  the  "Philadelphia  Brigade".* 

At  II  o'clock  at  night  what  was  left  of  our  three  Regiments 
was  quietly  withdrawn,  being  relieved  by  General  Sykes'  Divi- 
sion of  Regulars.  Orders  were  given  in  whispers,  canteens  and 
cups  muffled,  and  silently  we  returned  to  the  city,  having  lain  for 
nearly  ten  hours  under  that  murderous  fire,  without  food  or  water, 
surrounded  by  the  dead  and  wounded.  The  latter  were  unable 
to  get  to  the  rear,  but  compelled  to  lie  there,  suffering  even  for 
water,  in  addition  to  the  pain  of  their  wounds.  Even  after  dark 
their  friends  could  only  be  guided  to  them  by  their  moanings,  as 
any  attempt  to  carry  a  lantern  or  light  of  any  kind  drew  the  fire 
of  the  enemy.  The  Seventy-First  Regiment  under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Markoe  was  relieved  from  their  position  on  the  right,  and 

*  From    TAe  Inquirer  of  Wednesday,  December  31,   1862. 


146  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

sent  forward  with  the  regulars  to  hold  the  ground  on  the  right 
of  the  Plank  road. 

Upon  our  return  to  town  our  shattered  ranks  were  closed  up ; 
but  there  were  gaps  made  never  to  be  refilled.  We  parted  with 
many  there,  never  to  meet  again  in  the  service,  and  some  not  again 
in  this  world.  Saddened  at  our  loss,  we  were  yet  thankful  that 
so  many  were  spared  after  passing  through  such  a  terrible  ordeal. 
General  Howard  came  and  thanked  us  for  doing  our  duty  so  well, 
and  holding  our  position  so  long,  exposed  to  such  terrible  fire. 
He  called  us  the  "Stonewall  Brigade".  Roll-call  of  the  Regi- 
ment or  rather  "Counting  the  Muskets",  revealed  but  one  hundred 
and  six  men  present  for  duty.  This  peculiar  incident  of  "Count- 
ing the  Muskets"  of  the  Regiment  in  the  streets  of  Fredericks- 
burg, sadly  impressed  those  present,  as  it  revealed  the  absent  guns 
of  many  brave  and  noble  comrades.  They  were  counted  twice 
by  Adjutant  Pleis  and  verified  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Curry,  and 
told  of  a  loss  of  six  killed,  seven  officers  and  forty-nine  men  wound- 
ed ;  total,  sixty-two.  Total  loss  from  December  ist  to  15th  in- 
clusive, seventy-eight. 

Those  killed  were  Privates  Wensil  Hartman  of  Company  A, 
David  Long  and  John  H.  Painter  of  Company  C,  George  Upjohn 
of  Company  H,  and  John  Green  and  Joseph  W.  Spaulding  of 
Company  K.  Among  the  wounded  were  Captains  F.  H.  Achuflf. 
William  N.  Jones,  and  William  Y.  Farr.  and  Lieutenants  John 
A.  Steel,  Benjamin  F.  Sloanaker,  John  F.  Hassett  and  Williani 
May. 

Company  A. 
Sergeant   Strohm,   Corporals   Wagner,   Schaefer  and   Walton,   and 
Privates     Fesmire,     Lukens,     Newell,     Otley,     Robinson     and 
Strickler. 

Company  C. 
Sergeant  Neiler,  and  Privates  Barclay,  Crandle,  Donahue,  O'Don- 
nell,  H.  H.  Spencer  and    Trexler. 

Company  D. 
Sergeant  Conklin.  and  Privates  Buckley,  Fuller  and  Wilhur. 

Company  E. 
Privates  Collum.  Hilt  and  Rowland. 


1862]  FREDERICKSBURG  147 

Company  F. 
Privates  Bambleson,  Little  and  Sanes. 

Company  G. 
Private  Hall. 

Company  H. 
Sergeant  Creamer  and  Privates  Collister,  Glass,  F.  Landon,  Lee, 
Rich  and  Ryan. 

Company  I. 
Sergeant    Phillips,    Corporal    Pyewell,    and    Privates    Collins    and 
O'Leary. 

Company  K. 
Sergeants   Grogan   and   Parker,   and   Privates   Harvey,   Holt,   Lee, 
Maloney,  Mills,  O'Neill,  Pratt,  White  and  Windell. 

Oil  the  morning  of  the  14th,  Colonel  Morehead  being  detailed 
as  Field  Ofificer-of-the-day  of  our  Division,  left  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Curry  in  command  of  the  Regiment  and  took  up  his  position  with 
the  Seventy-First  Regiment,  then  stationed  in  the  yard  of  a 
tannery  on  the  right  of  the  town,  where  they  were  sent  during  the 
night.  It  was  a  very  exposed  position  causing  the  Regiment  to 
suffer  heavy  loss,  for  as  soon  as  the  fog  lifted  the  enemy  opened 
fire,  their  sharpshooters  firing  at  every  one  that  afforded  them 
even  a  chance  shot.  Finally  about  noon  Colonel  Morehead  dir- 
ected their  withdrawal  back  beyond  the  canal  to  a  more  sheltered 
position,  as  the  enemy  had  opened  a  heavy  artillery  fire  which 
made  that  position  no  longer  tenable. 

It  was  while  the  Regiment  lay  in  Caroline  street,  and  while 
some  of  the  men  were  cooking  their  coft'ee  at  a  large  fire,  that  a 
shell  struck  the  roof  of  one  of  the  houses,  rebounded  and  rolled 
off  into  the  fire  and  exploded  scattering  fire,  coffee  and  men,  but 
fortunately  only  one  man  was  slightl}'  wounded. 

During  the  morning  of  that  day  Burnside's  own  corps,  the 
Ninth,  was  brought  forward  and  massed  in  the  town,  ready  to 
renew  the  attack  and  once  more  attempt  the  capture  of  the  works, 
General  Burnside  intending  to  lead  in  person  his  line  of  eighteen 
regiments.  The  other  general  officers,  however,  especially  Gen- 
eral Sumner,  whose  reputation  as  a  soldier  gave  value  to  his 
opinions,  so  strongly  protested  against  such  action  that  Burnside 
was  finally  persuaded  to  give  it  up,  and  the  charge  was  not  made, 


148  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

thus  saving  many  lives  in  what  must  have  been  another  fruitless 
attempt.  The  battle  was  not  therefore  renewed,  and  the  troops 
remained  inactive  during  that  and  the  following  day,  when  it 
was  decided  to  vacate  the  city.  Orders  were  issued,  and  towards 
midnight  of  the  15th,  the  army  began  to  recross  the  Rappahannock 
river.  By  daylight  the  next  morning,  all  were  safely  across,  the 
pontoon  bridge  removed,  and  the  men  returned  to  their  former 
camps,  our  Regiment  reaching  theirs  at  2.30  in  the  morning ;  mor- 
tified at  the  result  and  saddened  at  the  terrible  loss,  they  had  done 
their  duty  well,  knowing  that  though  no  advantage  had  been 
gained  they  were  not  responsible  for  the  failure. 

The  good  fortune  that  seemed  to  follow  our  Regiment  again 
attended  us  here,  and  although  subjected  first  to  their  fire  from  the 
houses  the  night  we  crossed  the  river,  then  the  charge  on  the  13th 
and  lying  all  day  exposed  to  that  terrible  fire,  our  loss  was  com- 
paratively light,  as  per  statement  given  and  Colonel  Morehead's 
official  report  appended. 

Palfrey  closes  his  volume  and  his  account  of  the  battle  of  Frede- 
ricksburg with  the  following  paragraph : 

It  would  be  too  much  to  say  that  there  are  no  sadder  stories  in 
military  history  than  that  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  but  its 
story  is  sad  enough.  Always  better  than  its  commanders,  always 
ready  to  "stand  in  the  evil  hour"  and  "having  done  all  to  stand", 
it  marched,  and  fought,  and  hungered,  and  thirsted  for  four  years, 
hardly  ever  animated  by  victory.  It  showed  in  all  that  it  endured 
and  achieved,  that  it  was  an  admirable  instrument  for  the  hand 
that  knew  how  to  wield  it,  but  it  never  had  the  good  fortune  to  be 
commanded  by  a  soldier  who  was  worthy  of  it.  It  fought  through 
to  the  end,  it  did  its  work  and  gained  its  crown,  but  its  path  was 
long  and  rough  and  seldom  cheered,  and  one  of  its  saddest  and 
sharpest  experiences  was  its  brave,  hopeless  effort  at  Fredericks- 
burg. 

General  Burnside  reports  his  whole  loss  as  follows : 


Killed 

Wounded 

Missing 

Total 

Right   Grand   Division, 

491 

3933 

737 

5161 

Center   Grand   Division, 

316 

2398 

755 

3469 

Left  Grand  Division, 

2,73 

2697 

653 

37^3 

Total,  1 180  9028  2145  12353 


1862]  FREDERICKSBURG  149 

Colonel  Morehead  submitted  the  following  as  his  official  report 
of  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg : 

Headquarters  io6th  Penna.  Regiment. 
2D  Brigade,  2d  Division,  2d  Corps. 
Camp  near  Falmouth,  Va.,  December  i8,  1863. 
Lieut.  Ferdinand  M.  Pleis,  Acting  Ass't  Adj't  General. 

Sir: — In  pursuance  to  orders,  I  marched  on  the  morning  of  the 
nth  inst.  to  a  point  near  Fredericksburg,  Va.  At  about  5.30  o'clock 
p.  M.  I  crossed  over  the  Rappahannock  under  a  heavy  fire  of  artil- 
lery and  musketry.  We  immediately  formed  in  line  of  battle  on* 
the  left  of  the  bridge.  While  forming  the  line,  we  were  consider- 
ably annoyed  by  sharpshooters  on  the  left  of  us.  Company  B  was 
detached  to  act  as  skirmishers  and  clear  the  street  to  front  and 
left.  Shortly  afterwards  Company  G  was  detailed  as  a  support  to 
Company  B. 

There  was  considerable  firing  for  some  time,  but  the  companies 
detached,  in  connection  with  one  company  of  the  Seventy-Second 
Regiment,  finally  succeeded  in  clearing  the  streets.  About  twenty 
prisoners  were  taken,  and  ten  (10)  rebel  mail  bags,  which  I  im- 
mediately forwarded  to  your  headquarters. 

The  Regiment  bivouacked  for  the  night  upon  the  ground  of 
their  line.  On  the  morning  of  the  12th  inst.  I  marched  my  com- 
mand to,  and  formed  in,  the  second  or  Caroline  street,  where  we 
remained  under  arms  during  the  day. 

The  morning  of  the  13th  inst.  found  us  again  under  arms. 
About  12.30,  in  pursuance  of  orders,  we  marched  to  the  front, 
where  the  battle  was  already  raging.  When  within  about  four 
hundred  (400)  yards  of  the  enemy's  works,  our  line  of  battle  was 
formed  under  a  very  heavy  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Seventh  Pennsylvania  Regiment  being 
on  our  left  and  the  Sixty-Ninth  on  our  right.  We  then  moved  for- 
ward in  line,  and  took  possession  of  a  slight  elevation  within  about 
eighty  (80)  yards  of  the  first  line  of  battle  of  rebels.  Their  first 
line  was  at  the  base  of  the  hill  behind  a  stone-wall ;  their  second 
line  was  immediately  above  the  first,  on  the  crest  of  a  very  steep 
hill;  consequently  we  were  exposed  to  the  fire  of  their  two  lines. 
The  proximity  of  our  line  to  the  hill  sheltered  us  from  the  fire  of 
the  rebel  artillery,  as  they  could  not  depress  their  pieces  sufficiently 
to  bring  them  to  bear  upon  us.  Their  musketry  fire  soon  told 
heavily  upon  us,  and  unless  wounded,  not  a  man  left  his  place  in 
the  line.  We  remained  in  this  position  until  11  o'clock  in  the 
night,  when  we  were  relieved  by  the  Second  Regiment,  United 
States  Infantry.  The  command  was  then  marched  to  the  quarters 
they  occupied  the  night  previous. 


150  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1862 

At  daybreak  of  the  morning  of  the  14th  inst.  the  Regiment  was 
again  under  arms,  and  remained  so  during  the  day. 

On  Monday,  the  15th  inst.,  the  Regiment  remained  under  arms 
until  about  6  o'clock  p.  m.,  when  it  was  detailed  for  fatigue  duty, 
with  orders  to  report  to  Division  headquarters.  While  engaged  in 
throwing  up  a  redoubt  the  order  was  countermanded,  and  the 
Regiment  was  marched  to  its  quarters.  Shortly  afterwards,  pur- 
suant to  orders,  we  recrossed  the  Rappahannock,  and  arrived  at 
camp  at  about  2  o'clock  a.  m. 

Too  much  praise  cannot  be  bestowed  upon  officers  and  men  of 
my  command  for  their  unwavering  courage  and  gallant  conduct 
during  the  whole  of  this  trying  period.  They  did  their  duty  well, 
and  what  more  can  be  said? 

I  cannot  but  refer  to  the  gallant  conduct  of  my  entire  field  and 
stafif.  My  confidence  in  Lieutenant-Colonel  Gurry  and  Major 
Stover,  by  their  cool  and  daring  courage  and  their  unexception- 
able deportment,  is  only  increased,  ;/  possible.  Assistant  Surgeon 
H.  D.  McLean,  fully  alive  to  the  importance  of  his  position,  was 
always  to  be  found  alleviating  the  sufferings  of  the  dying  and 
wounded.  I  am  also  much  indebted  to  Acting  Adjutant  Lieutenant 
J.  C.  Biggs  and  Sergeant-Major  Hagy,  for  their  invaluable  ser- 
vices. 

Below  you  will  please  find  the  number  of  the  killed,  wounded 
and  missing. 

Killed  Wounded  Missing  Total 

Officers     o  9  o  9 

Men     5  60  4  69 

Total     5  69  4  78 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.   G.    MOREHEAD, 

Colonel  Commanding 

106  Pennsylvania  Regiment. 

James  C.  Biggs, 

Lieutenant  and  Acting  Adjutant. 


JilHX   Ikvin. 
Aug.  26,  1861.  Oct.  6,  1864. 

As  Second  Lieutenant. 

Promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  July  19,  1862. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa..  July  3,  1862. 

Discharged,  Oct   6,  1864. 

Brevet-Major.  U.  S.  V. 


First  Sergeant  William  Irvin. 
Aug.  26.  1861.  Sept.  10,  1864. 

As  Corporal. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant.  July  26,  1862. 

Promoted  to  First  Sergeant,  Aug.  13    i8( 

Wounded  at  Savage  Statit.n.  Va.,  June  29. 

Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  i8( 

Mustered  out  with  Company,  Sept.  10,  18 


COMPANY  D. 


Sergeant  Samiel  Irvin. 
Aug.  26,  1861.  Sept.  10,  18 

Wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  10,  iS 
Mustered  out  with  Company,  Sept.  io,'i8( 


Corporal  David  Irvin. 
Aug.  26,  1 861.  Sept.  10,  1864. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal,  March  14,  1863. 

Wounded  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  1864. 

Mustered  out  vi'ith  Company,  Sept.  10,  1864'. 


FOUR    BROTHERS. 


1862]  WINTER  QUARTERS  151 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

WINTER    QUARTERS. 

AS  has  been  stated,  the  men  returned  to  camp,  saddened  and 
mortified ;  we  could  go  still  farther  and  say  gloomy,  de- 
moralized, and  our  leaders  were  called  upon  to  try  to 
overcome  this  despondency.  At  a  regimental  inspection  held 
the  next  day  after  returning  to  our  camp,  General  Howard  ad- 
dressed the  men  at  length,  told  us  to  keep  in  good  heart,  thanked 
us  for  doing  so  well  and  proving  ourselves  such  good  soldiers 
under  the  terrible  ordeal  through  which  we  had  just  passed, 
hoped  we  would  continue  to  do  our  full  duty  as  citizens  and 
soldiers,  defend  the  constitution  and  laws  of  our  country  and  pre- 
serve her  institutions,  paid  a  high  tribute  of  respect  to  the  fallen 
and  kindly  remembered  the  woundefi,  thanked  us  again  for  sus- 
taining him  and  so  readily  obeying  the  orders  of  our  officers,  and 
closed  by  proposing  three  cheers  for  the  Union,  which  were  given ; 
Colonel  Morehead  then  proposed  three  more  for  General  Howard, 
to  which  the  men  also  responded.  A  few  days  afterwards  the 
Regiment  was  personally  inspected  by  General  Sumner,  who 
minutely  examined  the  guns,  equipments,  clothing,  tents,  and 
asked  particularly  about  the  rations.  Yet  the  men  still  felt  the 
effects  of  that  fight. 

The  result  of  that  campaign  was  known  to  be  disastrous  and 
that  of  the  future  uncertain.  While  they  admired  General  Burn- 
side  as  a  man,  "for  his  high  personal  character,  and  his  candid 
assumption  of  the  responsibilityof  the failureat  Fredericksburg  and 
his  acknowledgment  that  the  fighting  of  the  troops  entitled  them  to 
better  success",  they  had  lost  confidence  in  him  as  a  commander, 
and  no  one  seemed  available  to  take  his  place  unless,  as  a  great 
many  seemed  to  think,  McClellan  could  be  brought  back  again. 
Yet  this  feeling  would  not  prevent  them  from  quickly  responding 
to  the  call  for  duty,  no  matter  who  should  lead ;  their  experience 
of  the  past  had  schooled  them  for  just  such  emergencies,  and 


152  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1862 

throughout  the  whole  Army  of  the  Potomac  the  reaction  from 
this  despondency  seemed  more  slow  than  usual.  Many  men  lost 
heart,  and  those  reported  "straggling"  or  "absent  without  leave" 
were  steadily  increasing,  and  many  officers  sought  for  their  dis- 
charge on  surgeon's  certificate  of  disability  or  for  slight  wounds, 
thus,  as  they  thought,  leaving  "honorably"  the  service  of  their 
country,  at  this  one  of  the  times  of  her  greatest  need  of  true  and 
staunch  hearts  and  willing  hands.  The  issue  of  the  Emancipation 
Proclamation  by  President  Lincoln,  on  January  ist,  1863,  met 
wath  considerable  opposition  among  the  rank  and  file,  and  assisted 
to  increase  the  demoralization ;  many  freely  giving  expression  to 
their  feelings  and  boldly  stating  that  they  would  not  have  entered 
the  army  had  they  thought  such  would  have  been  the  action  of  the 
Government,  and  some  almost  as  boldly  admitting  that  they  were 
not  even  then  ready  or  willing  to  assist  in  its  enforcement.  Yet 
the  wisdom  of  such  a  step  by  our  now  martyred  President,  who 
then  seemed  to  look  into  the  future  and  see  its  great  good  to 
humanity,  will  now  freely  be  admitted  by  those  who  were  then 
most  pronounced  in  its  denunciation,  but  such  was  their  feeling 
at  that  time.  This  despondent  or  demoralized  feeling  was  well 
demonstrated  on  January  17th,  when  General  Burnside  reviewed 
the  army.  As  he  passed  our  Corps  he  was  accompanied  by  Generals 
Sumner,  Couch,  Hancock  and  Howard,  and  their  respective  staffs, 
and  when  passing  along  our  lines  General  Howard  rode  out  and 
proposed  three  cheers  for  General  Burnside,  but  not  a  man  re- 
sponded and  no  cheer  was  given ;  this  was  a  small  matter,  but 
"straws  tell  which  way  the  wind  blows" ;  they  were  in  no  humor 
for  cheers,  there  was  no  enthusiasm ;  they  did  what  their  duty 
required  of  them  but  no  more. 

The  Regiment  began  at  once  to  make  themselves  comfortable 
for  the  winter,  so  far  as  they  could  with  the  limited  means  at  their 
disposal.  Huts  were  built  of  logs,  plastered  with  mud,  large 
fireplaces  built,  and  the  shelter  tents  used  for  roofs,  and  thus  they 
had  very  comfortable  homes ;  but  until  they  were  built  they  suffer- 
ed greatly  from  the  cold,  a  member  of  the  Seventy-Second  Regi- 
ment was  frozen  to  death,  also  the  colored  servant  of  Captain 
Ford  of  Company  I  of  our  Regiment.  Picket  duty  by  companies 
w^as  resumed,  battalion  and  brigade  drills  were  instituted,  reviews 


1862]  WINTER  QUARTERS  153 

by  brigade,  division,  corps  and  the  entire  army,  and  the  usual 
routine  of  camp  Hfe  while  lying  in  winter  quarters  lived  over 
again,  including  the  usual  rumors,  jokes  and  growls.  Efforts 
were  made  to  overcome  the  despondency  of  the  men,  and  fur- 
loughs were  granted  of  ten  days  each  and  transportation  furnish- 
ed the  men  to  their  homes  and  back.  One  field  and  two  line 
officers,  and  two  members  of  each  one  hundred  men  were  allowed 
to  go  at  a  time,  and,  upon  their  return,  others  went.  We  received 
here  the  first  vegetables,  potatoes  and  onions,  since  leaving  Harri- 
son's Landing,  and  then  the  paymaster  made  his  appearance  on 
January  27th,  and  we  were  paid  for  two  months.  These  in- 
fluences for  good  were  felt. 

It  was  while  hurriedly  preparing  for  picket  on  the  morning  of 
December  i8th,  that  the  colored  servant  of  Captain  Ford  of  Com- 
pany I,  was  found  dead.  Captain  Ford  and  Lieutenant  Hibbs 
occupied  the  same  quarters,  and  the  latter,  after  repeatedly  calling 
for  the  servant,  started  out  to  wake  him  up,  as  he  slept  in  a  small 
A  tent  in  rear  of  the  Captain's  quarters.  The  Lieutenant  went 
to  the  tent  and  called  him,  then  opened  the  tent  and  called  again, 
and  then  hearing  no  response,  kicked  him.  as  he  thought,  to  waken 
him,  and  still  seeing  no  sign  of  moving,  took  hold  of  him  to  shake 
him,  and  found  him  cold  and  stiff'.  He  was  dead!  frozen  to 
death.  Lieutenant  Hibbs  immediately  reported  to  the  Captain 
that  he  was  dead,  who  asked  him  how  he  knew  it,  and  when  told 
that  he  had  tried  to  waken  him  by  kicking  him,  the  Captain  re- 
plied "My  God,  you  have  kicked  him  to  death",  and  slyly  told  two 
or  three  of  the  other  officers,  and  Lieutenant  Hibbs  never  heard 
the  last  of  "kicking  that  nigger  to  death".  The  death  of  their 
servant  was  the  means  of  making  the  Captain  the  victim  of  an- 
other joke ;  having  no  servant  they  were  compelled  to  get  their 
own  breakfast  in  addition  to  getting  themselves  ready,  or  go  on 
picket  without  any,  so  the  Captain  at  once  began  to  prepare  it. 

Now  wood  was  very  scarce,  and  details  were  sent  out  with 
teams  to  cut  it  and  haul  it  to  the  company  cook-house  for  the  men, 
but  the  officers  were  mostly  on  short  allowance,  and  were  often 
compelled  to  beg  or  borrow  from  the  companies.  Captain  Ford 
had  done  this  so  much  that  the  men  were  tired  of  it.  and  repeated- 
ly refused  his  servant,  when  sent  for  it.     The  servant  then  had 


154  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

orders  to  steal  it.  and  he  faithfully  obeyed  his  orders,  taking  it 
from  any  pile  he  could,  and  it  became  pretty  well  known.  So  this 
morning  the  Captain  was  greatly  surprised  to  find  a  number  of 
nicely  cut  sticks  back  of  his  tent,  and  thinking  that  the  nigger  had 
secured  them,  "according  to  orders",  before  he  went  to  bed  the 
night  before,  the  Captain  felt  very  grateful  to  him,  as  he  would 
not  have  to  run  around  that  cold  morning  to  hunt  fuel  enough 
to  cook  their  breakfast,  so  he  started  his  fire,  set  his  cofifee-pot 
on  to  boil,  fixed  his  meat  in  the  frying-pan,  and  sat  himself  down 
on  an  empty  ammunition  box  to  attend  to  both,  when,  without  the 
slightest  warning,  there  was  a  terrible  explosion  ;  the  frying-pan 
flew  up  in  the  air  and  sent  the  meat  in  every  direction,  the  contents 
of  the  cofifee-pot  were  blown  all  over  the  captain,  the  box  he  was 
sitting  on  knocked  from  under  him,  and  he  on  the  broad  of  his 
back,  kicking  and  swearing.  He  soon  jumped  up  and  endeavored 
to  ascertain  who  had  played  this  joke  on  him,  and  finally  wound 
up  at  the  Adjutant's  quarters.  They  so  enjoyed  the  joke,  that  he 
suspected  them  of  perpetrating  it,  and  got  greatly  excited,  and  to 
get  even  with  them  upset  their  stove,  and  was  finally  tumbled  out 
of  the  tent,  with  sticks  of  wood,  boots,  and  whatever  they  could 
pick  up,  thrown  after  him.  He  was  then  met  by  the  Colonel, 
who  had  come  from  his  quarters  to  see  what  was  the  cause  of 
such  a  rumpus,  and  he  ordered  the  Captain  to  his  quarters.  The 
excitement  soon  cooled  down,  but  the  joke  was  long  after  re- 
membered. Some  parties  had  got  tired  of  having  their  wood 
stolen,  and  had  prepared  these  sticks  with  a  number  of  cartridges 
in  them ;  hence  the  explosion. 

On  December  20th,  Colonel  Morehead  was  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Third  Brigade,  General  Sully's;  on  January  17th  re- 
turned and  assumed  command  of  our  Brigade ;  returned  to  the 
Regiment  on  the  24th,  and  on  the  26th  went  home  on  furlough, 
returning  February  19th. 

On  January  14th,  we  had  our  hopes  raised  for  a  chance  of  a 
pleasant  change  from  our  present  location  and  duty,  by  Adjutant 
Pleis,  upon  returning  from  Philadelphia  and  Washington,  stating" 
that  we  would  certainly  start  in  a  few  day  for  Baltimore,  to  guard 
the  railroad  and  such  other  easy  duty.  This  was  strengthened 
by  Dr.  Dwindle  saying  that  we  were  to  leave  in  a  few  days.     But 


1863]  WINTER  QUARTERS  155 

those  few  days  were  lengthened  into  weeks,  and  then  months, 
and  we  never  got  assigned  to  that  pleasant  duty.  Whether  the 
orders  were  countermanded  before  they  were  promulgated,  or 
some  others  were  substituted  in  our  place,  or  whether,  upon  calm 
consideration,  those  who  contemplated  such  a  change  thought 
that  it  would  not  do  to  remove  from  the  front  a  brigade  of 
veterans,  who  had  proved  themselves  such  good  soldiers,  was 
never  made  known  to  us ;  but  we  did  know  that  we  never  enjoyed 
such  good  fortune  as  to  have  anything  but  active  service  during 
our  whole  term  of  enlistment. 

On  January  20th,  while  on  parade,  orders  were  read  from  Gen- 
eral Burnside  announcing  that  we  were  about  to  meet  the  enemy 
once  more,  that  the  brilliant  achievements  of  our  troops  in  North 
Carolina,  Tennessee,  and  Arkansas,  had  weakened  the  forces  on 
the  Rappahannock  in  our  front,  and  now  it  was  time  for  us  to 
strike  a  death  blow  to  the  rebellion.  The  country  at  large  seemed 
to  demand  that  a  movement  of  some  kind  should  take  place  to 
overcome,  if  possible,  the  influence  of  the  Fredericksburg  disaster, 
and  General  Burnside  decided  to  attempt  once  more  the  passage 
of  the  Rappahannock.  The  enemy,  however,  not  to  be  surprised 
at  any  such  movement,  had  posted  considerable  force  at  all  the 
fords  of  the  river  in  the  vicinity  of  Fredericksburg,  and  the  river 
being  much  higher  than  usual  rendered  the  building  of  bridges  a 
necessity  in  order  to  cross  troops,  another  obstacle  to  be  overcome ; 
but  Burnside  issued  his  orders,  and  the  necessary  arrangements 
were  completed.  A  feint  was  first  made  below  the  city  by  a  por- 
tion of  the  Second  Corps  under  Couch,  and  the  Eleventh  Corps 
under  Sigel,  on  the  19th,  and  on  the  20th  the  main  movement  was 
made  up  the  river,  to  cross  at  Banks'  Ford,  by  Hooker's  and 
Franklin's  Grand  Divisions,  who  had  been  hurriedly  moved  up 
there  the  night  before,  with  their  artillery  in  position  to  force  a 
crossing,  and  the  pontoons  near  the  river  bank.  Everything  was 
ready  for  an  early  advance  in  the  morning,  but  "man  counted 
without  his  host",  for  during  the  night  there  began  one  of  the 
severest  storms  of  the  season ;  roads  were  converted  into  mud 
puddles  that  seemed  to  have  no  bottom,  men  with  difficulty 
struggled  on  through  mud  and  water.  To  get  the  boats  to  the 
river  through  the  sticky  soil,  the  horses  were  doubled  up,  and 


156  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SI  NTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

assisted  by  the  strong  arms  of  as  many  men  as  could  get  at  them 
with  ropes,  yet  they  could  scarcely  get  them  along,  and  all  day 
was  spent  in  the  preparation  to  build  a  single  bridge.  These 
efforts  were  soon  known  to  the  enemy,  who  taunted  them,  and 
asked  if  they  "wanted  any  help  to  build  their  bridge".  The  next 
day,  the  21st,  the  storm  still  continuing,  the  stituation  grew  worse, 
and  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  really  "stuck  in  the  mud". 
Further  advance  was  impossible ;  the  only  thing  to  do  was  to  re- 
turn to  camp,  and  so  they  did,  working  their  way  back,  trudging 
along  through  the  mud  and  storm,  tugging  at  the  artillery  that 
was  now  sunk  to  their  axles,  requiring  the  united  action  of  hun- 
dreds of  men  to  get  one  piece  at  a  time  out  of  the  mud  holes. 
And  all  day  long  were  the  now  nearly  exhausted  men  working 
their  way  back  to  their  camps,  and  "Burnside's  Mud  Campaign" 
was  ended.  Our  Brigade  took  no  part  in  this  campaign,  but  re- 
mained in  camp  on  account  of  its  prominent  position,  being  in 
full  view  of  the  rebels,  so  that  any  movement  on  our  part  would 
have  revealed  to  them  our  intentions,  so  we  merely  assisted  the 
others  as  they  passed  by  our  camp,  and  shared  with  them  our 
rations. 

Even  our  brigade  pickets  stationed  along  the  river  front,  in 
front  of  Falmouth,  were  taunted  by  the  rebs  opposite  and  in- 
formed of  Burnside's  failure  before  they  heard  it  from  our  own 
people.  They  marked  in  large  letters  on  a  door  "Burnside  stuck 
in  the  mud",  and  stood  it  up  so  that  our  men  could  easily  read  it, 
this  on  January  22d,  and  that  they  knew  of  his  intended  movement 
was  shown  a  few  evenings  before  by  their  reading  aloud  a  copy 
of  his  (Burnside's)  order  No.  7.     Who  was  the  traitor? 

General  Burnside  after  this  failure,  at  his  own  request  was  re- 
lieved from  the  command  that  had  been  thrust  upon  him  and  re- 
luctantly accepted  by  him,  and  on  January  25th,  General  Joseph 
Hooker  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
The  same  order  relieved  at  his  own  request  brave  old  General 
Sumner,  who  shortly  after,  while  on  his  way  to  join  the  army  on 
the  frontier,  died  at  Syracuse,  New  York. 

Religious  services  were  held  each  Sabbath  at  Brigade  Head- 
quarters, conducted  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Corkhill,  assisted  sometimes 
by  others.     On  January  25th,  General  Howard  was  present,  and 


1863]  WINTER  QUARTERS  157 

when  Mr.  Corkhill  had  finished,  he  spoke.  His  well  chosen  and 
well  delivered  address  was  listened  to  wdth  marked  attention  and 
deeply  impressed  those  present,  inspiring  confidence  and  carrying 
conviction,  so  that  some  returned  to  their  quarters  feeling  their 
sense  of  guilt,  and  with  a  desire  to  profit  by  his  teaching  and  ac- 
cept the  truth.  On  February  ist,  ovir  former  Chaplain  Harris 
was  present  and  took  part,  and  again  on  April  19th,  and  on  the 
26th  conducted  the  services.  There  is  no  doubt  but  what  these 
services  did  a  great  deal  of  good  and  helped  many  to  find  their 
Saviour. 

The  formation  of  the  army  was  changed  by  General  Hooker ; 
the  Grand  Divisions  were  discontinued  and  the  army  divided  into 
seven  corps,  as  follows :  The  First  Corps  commanded  by  General 
Reynolds,  the  Second  by  General  Couch,  the  Third  by  General 
Sickles,  the  Fifth  by  General  Meade,  the  Sixth  by  General  Sedg- 
wick, the  Eleventh  by  General  How'ard  and  the  Twelfth  by  Gen- 
eral Slocum.  The  cavalry  numbering  about  13,000  men,  under 
General  Stoneman.  The  rest  of  the  winter  was  devoted  to  re- 
organizing and  strengthening  the  army,  which  it  sadly  needed. 
Bryant  says : 

It   was   to    all    appearances    little   more    than   a   mob.     In    three 
months  he  made  an  army  of  it. 

Among  other  things  each  corps  was  required  to  adopt  and  wear 
a  distinct  badge  or  insignia  by  which  its  members  could  be  dis- 
tinguished ;  those  adopted  were  as  follows :  That  of  the  First 
Corps  a  disk,  the  Second  a  trefoil,  the  Third  a  diamond,  the  Fifth 
a  Maltese  cross,  the  Sixth  a  Greek  cross,  the  Eleventh  a  crescent, 
and  the  Twelfth  a  star.  The  Divisions  were  designated  by  the  color 
of  the  badge,  the  First  Division  wearing  red,  the  Second  white, 
the  Third  blue  and  the  Fourth  green.  By  this  means  the  members 
of  any  division  straggling  could  be  readily  identified,  as  they  were 
compelled  to  wear  them  on  the  top  of  their  caps.  This  idea  first 
originated  with  General  Kearney  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  who 
ordered  the  men  of  his  command  to  sew  a  piece  of  red  flannel  on 
their  caps,  so  that  he  could  recognize  them  in  the  turmoil  of  the 
battle ;  but  General  Hooker  developed  that  idea  as  above,  and  it 
proved  of  great  value  to  the  commanders. 


158  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1863 

On  February  7th,  the  Seventy-Second  Regiment  presented 
General  W.  W.  Burns,  their  former  Brigade  commander,  with  a 
magnificent  sword,  sash  and  belt,  costing  over  six  hundred  dollars 
on  the  eve  of  his  departure  for  the  west.  It  possessed  peculiar 
interest  from  the  fact  that  it  was  entirely  the  gift  of  the  rank  and 
file,  and  the  presentation  speech  was  made  by  Sergeant  Faber,  of 
Company  I,  on  behalf  of  the  non-conunissioned  officers  and  pri- 
vates. General  Burns  received  it,  replying  gracefully  and  briefly, 
saying  that  he  came  as  a  stranger  to  succeed  Colonel  Baker,  whom 
we  had  all  learned  to  idolize.  "A  brilliant  orator,  a  senator,  a 
man  whose  personal  attractions  won  all  hearts",  and  he,  being 
only  a  soldier,  how  hard  it  was  for  him  to  gain  our  confidence 
and  love ;  thanking  them  for  the  gift,  he  closed  as  follows : 

T  am  no  longer  your  General,  but  will  always  be  your  friend, 
and  proud  of  your  success.  I  came  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
at  the  instance  of  General  McClellan.  Burnside  and  Hooker  are 
my  friends.  T  leave  with  a  sad  heart,  but  Rosecrans  wants  me  in 
the  West ;  there  the  star  of  my  destiny  directs  me.  Farewell.  God 
bless  you. 

The  sword  was  one  of  rare  beauty  and  great  costliness,  the 
blade  pure  Damascus,  the  handle  a  fine  specimen  of  work  in  gold, 
diamonds,  amethyst,  turquoise  and  other  precious  stones,  having 
forty-one  diamonds  in  the  letters  W.  W.  B.  and  U.  S. ;  on  the 
scabbard  in  gold  bas-relief  was  an  equestrian  representation  of 
General  Burns  leading  his  men,  the  coat  of  arms  of  Pennsylvania, 
a  camp  scene  and  a  battle  scene ;  certainly  a  magnificent  souvenir. 

As  has  been  stated,  our  Brigade  took  no  part  in  what  was  called 
Burnside's  Mud  Campaign  on  January  19th.  20th,  and  21st,  but 
we  were  not  to  be  deprived  of  like  experiences,  as  after  tattoo  on 
Wednesday  night,  February  25th,  the  Brigade  was  ordered  under 
arms,  and  left  camp  with  overcoats  and  accoutrements,  command- 
ed by  Colonel  Baxter,  of  the  Seventy-Second  Regiment.  The 
ground  was  covered  with  snow  several  inches  deep,  the  moon  was 
shining  brightly,  but  clouds  could  be  seen  gathering  in  the  distance, 
threatening  a  storm.  We  marched  about  four  miles  towards 
Hartwood  Church,, to  intercept  a  body  of  rebel  cavalry  who  were 
raiding  on  our  right  flank.     A  halt  was  made,  no  fires  were  allow- 


1863]  WINTER  QUARTERS     .  159 

ed,  and  to  keep  warm  the  men  had  to  tramp  up  and  down,  or  trot 
around  Hke  so  many  horses  in  a  circus  ring.  Occasionally  a  fire 
would  start  up,  only  to  be  immediately  put  out  by  Colonel  Baxter. 
This  caused  considerable  dissatisfaction,  and  thoughts  expressed 
in  plain  words,  but  Colonel  Baxter  said  his  written  orders  were 
to  allow  no  fires,  and  he  intended  to  obey  those  orders.  About 
midnight  it  began  to  rain,  and  about  daylight  came  down  in  tor- 
rents, melting  the  snow,  turning  the  ground  into  mud  and  slush. 
As  soon  as  it  was  daylight  fires  were  started  in  all  directions, 
fences  and  out-buildings  were  torn  down  and  converted  into  fuel, 
and  everything  else  that  could  be  got  for  that  purpose ;  an  old 
wagon  and  some  cart-wheels  shared  the  same  fate.  About  4 
o'clock  a  large  force  of  cavalry  passed  us  to  the  front,  and  about 
8  o'clock  we  again  pressed  forward.  It  was  now  much  harder 
work ;  the  rain  still  continuing,  had  softened  the  roads,  and  made 
the  mud  nearly  over  shoe-top,  taking  us  nearly  an  hour  to  make 
one  mile.  After  an  advance  of  about  three  miles,  we  were  halted 
to  await  the  arrival  of  tw'o  wagons  that  had  been  sent  after  us 
with  provisions  and  whiskey.  When  they  arrived,  about  12 
o'clock,  it  was  found  that  the  provisions  consisted  of  "hardtack" 
only,  which  was  very  poor  breakfast  after  such  a  night  of  ex- 
posure, the  men  not  bringing  any  rations  with  them,  but  the  whis- 
key was  dealt  out  liberally  to  the  men,  which  they  gladly  accepted, 
being  greatly  in  need  of  some  such  stimulant ;  almost  wet  to  the 
skin,  our  feet  completely  soaked,  the  snow-water  penetrating  our 
shoes  as  though  they  were  made  of  so  much  paper.  About  2 
o'clock  an  aide  arrived  with  orders  for  us  to  return  to  camj),  which 
was  gladly  received,  and  back  we  started  through  mud  and  slush 
now  over  ankle  deep,  raining  very  hard,  the  water  cutting  gulleys 
in  the  roads  in  some  places  knee  deep,  through  which  we  had  to 
wade,  and  nearly  exhausted  we  reached  camp  about  5  o'clock, 
having  made  that  day  about  ten  miles,  over  the  worst  roads  and 
under  the  most  trying  circumstances  of  any  we  had  yet  experi- 
enced. A  fruitless  march  of  a  brigade  of  infantry  after  a  body 
of  cavalry  well  mounted,  that  had  at  least  twelve  hours  the  start, 
and  were  no  doubt  safely  across  the  river  and  in  their  camp  be- 
fore we  started ;  if  we  were  spared  the  experiences  of  the  mud 
march  of  January  iQth,  20th  and  21st,  we  lost  nothing  by  our  ex- 


IGO  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1863 

perience  of  February  25th  and  26th,  and  returned  to  camp  with 
''honors  easy"  between  us  and  the  rest  of  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac. 

On  March  5th,  grand  review  by  General  Hooker. 
On  March  23d,  the  death  of  General  Sumner  was  announced, 
and  received  with  sadness  by  his  entire  command.  He  had  won 
the  hearts  of  his  men ;  his  age  and  genial  disposition  had  won  for 
him  the  paternal  name  of  "Pop  Sumner",  and  his  "children" 
were  always  ready  to  obey  his  slightest  command,  and  to  follow 
wherever  he  led.  He  shared  all  the  dangers  of  his  men,  and 
never  seemed  so  happy  as  when  with  them  hotly  engaged  with  the 
enemy.  He  never  considered  his  own  personal  safety.  The 
members  of  our  Brigade  will  never  forget  his  conduct  at  Antie- 
tam,  where  he  rode  into  the  thickest  of  the  fight  to  save  the  balance 
of  Sedgwick's  Division  from  capture  or  annihilation.  Another 
brave  soldier  gone  to  his  rest,  after  forty-two  years'  active  mili- 
tary life,  but  not  as  he  would  have  wished,  in  the  fight  at  the  head 
of  his  men.     May  he  rest  in  peace. 

Before  daylight  on  the  morning  of  April  ist  we  were  ordered 
under  arms.  After  remaining  in  line  about  an  hour,  we  were  dis- 
missed. As  no  cause  was  given,  all  hands  thought  they  had  been 
made  the  victims  of  an  April  fool  joke,  but  two  hours  later,  learn- 
ed that  three  hundred  rebels  had  deserted,  crossed  the  river,  and 
surrendered,  and  our  pickets,  thinking  it  was  another  raid,  gave 
the  alarm  and  prepared  us  to  meet  it. 

During  the  afternoon  of  April  7th,  General  Owen  was  present- 
ed with  a  fine  horse,  and  a  full  and  elegant  set  of  equipments,  in- 
cluding sword,  sash  and  belt,  and  horse  equipments,  and  had  pre- 
pared for  his  friends  a  banquet,  and  had  a  large  frame  building 
erected,  a  table  spread,  and  entertained  all  the  officers  of  the  Bri- 
gade in  fine  style,  and  a  "jolly  time"  they  had  until  late  at  night. 

On  April  8th,  we  were  again  reviewed  by  President  Lincoln, 
who  was  received  with  great  enthusiasm.  He  was  accompanied 
by  his  wife  and  two  sons.  The  latter  rode  with  him  along  the 
line,  and  we  saw  Mrs.  Lincoln  seated  in  the  carriage  as  we  passed 
in  review. 

On  the  14th,  orders  were  issued  to  make  the  following  prepara- 


Edwin  V.  Sumner, 

Major  General  United  States  Army. 


1863]  WINTER  QUARTERS  161 

tions  for  moving:  To  turn  over  to  the  Quartermaster  all  extra 
clothing  on  hand ;  each  man  to  take  only  an  extra  shirt,  pair  of 
drawers  and  stockings ;  to  pack  five  days'  rations  of  crackers, 
coffee  and  sugar  in  knapsacks,  and  three  days'  rations  in  our 
haversacks,  the  meat  to  be  "on  the  hoof",  and  each  man  to  carry 
forty  rounds  of  ammunition. 

On  April  21st  we  were  paid  for  four  months. 


1C2  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [18G3 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

CHANCELLORSVILLE. 

TOWARDS  the  latter  part  of  April,  General  Hooker,  having 
perfected  his  plans,  and  with  an  army  now  numbering 
about  130,000  men  all  told — Doubleday  estimated  the 
force  to  be  "124,500  men  of  all  arms,  11,500  of  which  were 
cavalry",  and  Swinton  puts  the  number  at  120,000  infantry  and 
artillery,  and  12,000  cavalry;  total,  132,000 — decided  to  commence 
operations,  and  on  Monday  morning,  April  27th,  the  movement 
began.  A  column  of  about  40,000  men  of  the  Corps  of  Meade, 
(Fifth,  15,000)  Howard.  (Eleventh,  15,000)  and  Slocum, 
(Twelfth,  11,000)  ;  the  whole  under  the  command  of  General 
Slocum  marched  up  to  Kelly's  Ford  on  the  Rappahannock  river, 
about  twenty-seven  miles  above  Fredericksburg ;  threw  a  pontoon 
bridge  across  the  river  and  crossed  without  opposition  on  the  night 
of  the  28th  and  the  morning  of  the  29th ;  then  moved  southeaster- 
ly towards  Chancellorsville,  crossing  the  Rapidan  river,  Howard's 
and  Slocum's  Corps,  at  Germania  Ford,  and  Meade's  Corps,  at 
Ely's  Ford,  having  to  wade  at  both  places,  the  water  being  about 
four  feet  deep ;  the  men  carried  their  clothes,  haversacks  and  ac- 
coutrements on  their  guns  to  keep  them  dry.  Meade  moved 
further  east  along  the  Rappahannock  to  United  States  Ford, 
driving  from  there  a  force  of  three  brigades  of  the  enemy,  thus 
affording  Couch  an  opportunity  to  cross  his  Corps,  numbering 
about  16,000  men,  and  these  combined  forces,  now  amounting  to 
nearly  55,000  men,  pressed  forward  toward  Chancellorsville,  close- 
ly followed  by  Sickles'  Corps,  that  had  been  relieved  from  Sedg- 
wick's forces  below  and  was  now  fast  pushing  on  to  join  Hooker, 
adding  about  18,000  more  men.  This  movement  was  so  rapidly 
executed  that  Lee  was  taken  completely  by  surprise,  his  left  flank 
being  turned  before  he  was  aware  of  Hooker's  intentions.  In 
the  meanwhile,  Sedgwick  was  to  force  a  crossing  below  Frede- 
ricksburg with  the  combined  forces  of  Reynolds'  (First,  16,000), 


1863]  CHANCELLORSl'ILLE  163 

Sickles*  (Third,  18,000)  and  his  own  Corps  (Sixth,  22,000); 
this  was  a  feint  as  though  the  attack  was  to  be  made  at  that  point ; 
he  also  met  with  little  opposition,  accomplished  his  object  and 
crossed  about  two  miles  below  the  city.  Learning  that  Hooker 
had  arrived  at  Chancellorsville,  he  first  relieved  Sickles  and  sent 
him  to  follow  Hooker,  as  above  mentioned,  and  afterwards  sent 
Reynolds,  leaving  only  his  own  Corps  and  our  Division,  now  com- 
manded by  General  John  Gibbon,  with  the  exception  of  our  Brigade, 
which  was  detailed  to  guard  Banks'  Ford  and  keep  open  the  com- 
munication at  that  point.  As  soon  as  Sedgwick's  troops  (now 
about  25,000)  had  all  crossed,  one  of  the  bridges  was  taken  up 
and  transported  to  Banks'  Ford.  Our  Brigade  was  awakened 
about  2  o'clock  on  that  morning, May  ist,  with  orders  to  assist  the 
engineers,  and,  leaving  their  arms  and  accoutrements  in  camp, 
assisted  in  moving  the  train  of  boats  over  the  rough  and  hilly 
roads  to  the  ford,  reaching  there  about  8  o'clock.  Leaving  the 
Sixty-Ninth  Regiment  there,  the  rest  of  the  brigade  returned  to 
camp  for  their  arms,  and  as  soon  as  we  got  dinner  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixth  Regiment  was  ordered  back  to  the  ford  to  relieve 
the  Sixty-Ninth  Regiment,  and  arrived  there  about  4  o'clock, 
pretty  well  tired  out,  making  about  eighteen  miles  we  marched 
that  day ;  about  dark  moved  down  to  the  river  and  deployed  as 
pickets  or  lookouts ;  everything  remained  quiet  during  the  night ; 
the  next  morning  we  were  relieved  by  the  Seventy-Second  Regi- 
ment, which,  with  the  rest  of  the  brigade,  had  left  camp  about 
midnight  and  arrived  at  the  ford  about  2  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
We  remained  quiet  all  day,  the  rebel  pickets  plainly  visible  on  the 
opposite  bank  and  their  works  a  short  distance  back.  Heavy 
firing  heard  on  our  right  and  down  on  the  left,  nearly  all  day. 

Early  on  Sunday,  May  3d,  we  had  orders  to  clear  our  front  and 
lay  the  bridge ;  this  the  enemy  proposed  to  resist,  until  a  detach- 
ment of  the  Seventy-First  Regiment,  under  Lieutenant  Seabury, 
a  dashing  and  gallant  officer  of  that  regiment,  and  an  aide  on 
General  Owen's  stafif,  plunging  into  the  river  and  with  difficulty 
forcing  their  way  across,  effected  a  landing  and  captured  a  num- 
ber of  prisoners.  The  engineers  at  once  set  to  work  to  lay  the 
bridge,  supported  by  our  Brigade  and  about  sixty  pieces  of  reserve 
artillery,  in  position  on  the  bank  above. 


164  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SI  NTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

Sedgwick  moved  forward,  and  before  daylight  on  Sunday 
morning  had  occupied  the  city  of  Fredericksburg  and  attempted 
to  carry  the  heights  by  surprise,  but  was  beaten  back  with  heavy 
loss  by  the  forces  of  Early  stationed  there.  He  then  arranged  for 
a  combined  assault,  and  about  noon,  charged  and  succeeded  in 
capturing  their  first  line.  Following  up  the  advantage  he  had 
gained,  he  pressed  forward,  and  after  considerable  difficulty  and 
heavy  loss,  carried  the  famous  Marye's  Heights,  that  had  resisted 
all  the  efforts  of  Burnside  on  December  13th,  and  although  noth- 
ing near  the  same  force  defended  them,  yet  the  natural  strength 
of  the  position  put  it  into  the  power  of  a  comparatively  small  force 
to  hold  them  against  heavy  odds.  Sedgwick  having  accomplish- 
ed the  task  assigned  him,  now  moved  to  join  Hooker  at  Chancel- 
lorsville,  along  the  Rappahannock  via  Salem. 

Here  the  enemy,  reinforced  by  Wilcox's  Brigade,  that  had  been 
disputing  the  crossing  of  our  Brigade  at  Banks'  Ford,  made  a 
determined  stand,  and  during  the  rest  of  that  day  held  their 
ground  with  heavy  skirmishing,  and  prevented  Sedgwick's  furth- 
er advance.  Early  was  now  reinforced  by  Anderson's  Division 
of  about  10,000  men,  with  instructions  to  crush  Sedgwick,  and  the 
next  day  attacked  him  in  force,  and  gradually  forced  him  back 
to  Banks'  Ford.  This  prevented  his  union  with  Hooker ;  with 
his  command  now  reduced  by  a  loss  of  nearly  4.000,  he  made  a 
determined  stand,  throwing  Howe's  Division  around  until  his  left 
rested  on  the  river,  and  repulsed  their  assault. 

Our  Brigade  had  crossed  as  soon  as  the  bridge  was  completed 
the  day  before.  The  Seventy-First  Regiment,  which  was  on  the 
lead,  were  thrown  forward  as  skirmishers,  and  had  advanced  about 
one  mile,  driving  the  enemy's  skirmishers  before  them.  General 
Owen  then  formed  the  Brigade,  so  as  to  protect  the  bridge  and 
resist  any  attack,  and  remained  unmolested  that  night  and  the 
next  morning.  Learning  that  Sedgwick  was  then  hotly  engaged 
at  Salem  Church,  and  struggling  against  fearful  odds,  he  advanc- 
ed the  Brigade  to  his  assistance,  and  informed  him  that  the  bridge 
was  completed  at  Banks'  Ford,  and  telegraphic  communication 
opened  with  General  Hooker.  About  6  o'clock  Early  made  a 
final  attempt  to  cut  the  communication  between  Sedgwick  and 
the  bridge,  and  made  a  determined  charge  on  Howe's  Division 


1S63]  CHANCELLORSVILLE  165 

which  Sedgwick  repulsed,  and  then  countercharged,  driving  them 
before  him,  capturing  a  number  of  prisoners  and  three  battle-flags. 
Our  Brigade  was  then  ordered  back  to  the  Ford,  threw  up  en- 
trenchments, and  held  that  position,  covering  the  retreat  of  Sedg- 
wick, whose  entire  command  crossed  the  river  that  night.  Our 
Brigade  was  then  withdrawn  just  before  daylight,  across  the  river, 
the  engineers  taking  up  the  bridge.  We  then  returned  to  camp, 
arriving  there  about  9  o'clock,  where  we  remained  until  June  14th. 
Meanwhile  Hooker  was  getting  the  worst  of  the  fight  at  Chan- 
cellorsville.  Jackson  had  made  a  detour  of  about  fifteen  miles, 
until  he  came  around  on  Hooker's  right  flank,  occupied  by  the 
Eleventh  Corps  under  Howard,  whom  he,  in  broad  daylight,  took 
completely  by  surprise,  though  he  had  frequently  been  warned  of 
the  enemy's  approach  by  mounted  vedettes,  and  finally  by  an  offic- 
er, and  then  by  officers  of  his  own  command,  yet  even  then  he  fail- 
ed to  realize  his  danger  and  he  made  no  preparation  to  receive  them, 
and,  when  too  late  to  prevent  it,  Jackson  came  crushing  through 
his  lines,  driving  his  whole  Corps  back  in  utmost  confusion,  until 
the  enemy  occupied  all  the  ground  where  his  Corps  had  been  in 
position,  being  checked  for  three-quarters  of  an  hour  by  one 
P)rigade  only,  when  Berry's  Division  of  Sickles'  Corps,  which  was 
in  reserve  in  rear  of  Hazel  Grove,  was  sent  to  recover  the  ground 
lost  by  Howard,  and  charging  through  Howard's  fleeing  column, 
met  the  pursuing  enem}'  with  the  bayonet,  and  checked  their 
further  advance.  Then  General  Pleasanton,  commanding  the 
cavalry,  returning  to  his  former  position,  found  all  chaos  and  con- 
fusion and  men  fleeing  to  the  rear.  He  saw  that  something  must 
be  done  to  check  them  ;  he  ordered  forward  the  Eighth  Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry, under  its  gallant  commander,  Major  Keenan.  They 
had  not  gone  far  before  they  met  the  enemy's  line  of  battle,  ad- 
vancing. Major  Keenan,  the  gallant  commander,  saw  in  an  m- 
stant  that  he  was  in  a  bad  fix,  and  m.ust  do  something,  or  the 
enemy  would  capture  his  whole  comand,  and  advance  between  the 
flanks  of  our  army,  and  perhaps  capture  the  artillery  in  position 
in  his  rear.  So  he  gallantly  led  his  little  band  of  about  four  hun- 
dred in  that  heroic  charge  against  those  nearly  ten  thousand 
victorious  enemy.  This  the  enemy  met  and  repulsed  with  fearful 
loss,  including  that  gallant  commander,  who  fell  dead  at  the  head 


IGG  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

of  his  brave  men,  many  of  whom  also  fell,  and  the  rest  fell  back, 
but  they  had  accomplished  their  object,  had  checked  the  enemy's 
advance,  and  warned  our  men  of  their  close  proximity,  gained 
time  to  re-form  and  strengthen  our  line,  and  then  withdrawing, 
opened  the  way  for  our  batteries  to  discharge  their  double-shotted 
guns  as  they  opened  fire  and  poured  grape  and  canister  into  that 
still  advancing  line  of  the  enemy,  cutting  them  down  like  grass,  or 
blowing  them  to  pieces.  That  noble  officer  and  his  brave  band 
had  been  sacrificed,  but  our  army  was  saved,  and  repeated  charges 
of  the  enemy  were  repulsed  by  Berry  and  Pleasanton.  It  was  a 
more  gallant,  heroic  and  nobler  charge  than  that  of  the  Light 
Brigade  at  Balaklava,  for  greater  issues  were  at  stake,  the  men 
engaged  were  less,  the  opposing  forces  larger  and  the  loss  much 
greater.  This  ended  the  fight  for  that  day,  about  9  p.  m.,  Satur- 
day, May  2d.  It  was  fearful  odds  for  Howard,  wdio  had  only 
about  9,000  men  to  meet  this  attack  of  Jackson  with  26,000,  yet 
for  w-ant  of  proper  precaution  he  was  taken  so  by  surprise  that 
he  could  make  no  attempt  to  check  them,  but  fell  back  in  wild 
confusion.  No  advantage  could  be  said  to  have  been  gained  by 
Jackson  by  this  movement  other  than  completely  demoralizing 
Howard's  Corps,  and  capturing  a  number  of  his  men.  The  small 
ground  gained  was  of  no  advantage  and  it  was  here  after  the  fight- 
ing had  ceased  that  General  Jackson  was  mortally  wounded  by 
his  own  men.  He  had  ridden  out  with  a  small  escort  to  recon- 
noitre, and  was  returning,  when  they  were  mistaken  for  a  detach- 
ment of  our  cavalry  and  fired  into.  Jackson  received  three 
wounds,  was  carried  to  the  rear,  and  died  eight  days  after ;  nearly 
all  of  his  staff  and  escort  were  either  killed  or  w^ounded. 

During  the  night  our  lines  were  strengthened.  Reynolds' 
Corps  was  brought  up  from  near  the  United  States  Ford  and 
placed  where  Howard's  Corps  had  been,  their  line  extending 
further  to  the  right,  Slocum  in  the  centre,  and  Sickles  on  the  left. 
Hooker  had  unfortunately  directed  Sickles'  withdrawal  from  an 
elevated  position  he  held,  known  as  Hazel  Grove,  which  was  im- 
mediately taken  advantage  of  by  the  rebels  under  Stuart,  now 
commanding  Jackson's  Corps,  who  planted  his  artillery  there,  and 
as  soon  as  daylight  of  Sunday,  May  3d.  appeared,  opened  an  en- 
filading fire  on  Hooker's  line,  and  then  fiercely  assaulted  Sickles, 


1S63]  CHANCELLORS]' ILLE  167 

who,  after  repulsing  their  attack  three  or  four  times,  and  re- 
peatedly calling  for  reinforcements  in  vain,  was  finally  compelled, 
with  his  10,000  men,  to  yield  before  the  20,000  of  Stuart,  whereas, 
had  either  Meade  or  Reynolds  been  sent  to  Sickles'  assistance, 
they  could  have  held  their  ground  and  gained  the  victory.  French 
had  with  his  division  of  the  Second  Corps  been  ordered  to  Sickles' 
assistance,  and  struck  Stuart  sharply  on  the  flank  by  a  charge  of 
Carroll's  Brigade,  but  he  too  was  soon  repulsed.  The  enemy,  then 
making  another  charge,  captured  our  artillery  on  Fairview 
Heights,  only  to  be  driven  back  and  guns  recaptured.  In  the 
meantime,  Lee  had  thrown  his  forces  against  Hooker's  centre, 
held  by  Slocum,  and  gradually  worked  around  to  effect  a  union 
with  Stuart,  which  he  finally  consummated.  Hooker  had  his 
headquarters  at  the  Chancellorsville  House,  which  was  now  in 
range  of  Stuart's  batteries  at  Hazel  Grove,  and  while  leaning 
against  a  pillar  he  was  knocked  insensible  from  concussion  of  a 
shot  that  struck  the  pillar,  and  was  for  a  time  succeeded  by  Couch, 
who  assumed  command,  and  was  soon  strengthening  his  lines, 
having  taken  a  much  stronger  position,  with  both  flanks  retired, 
to  reach  the  Rapidan  river,  covering  both  Germania  and  Ely 
Fords.  The  position  was  a  strong  one,  and  could  have  repulsed 
any  attack  that  Lee  might  make  against  it,  when  Couch  was  again 
relieved  by  Hooker,  who,  remembering  only  the  condition  of  the 
army  when  he  was  compelled  to  relinquish  the  command  of  it, 
immediately  ordered  them  to  fall  back.  This  was  a  serious  mis- 
take, for  Hooker  had  about  35,000  men  in  the  First  and  Fifth 
Corps  that  had  not  been  engaged,  and  were  fresh  and  eager  for 
a  chance  to  assault.  This  could  not  fail  to  have  been  successful, 
as  Lee's  troops  were  all  tired  and  fought  out.  Lee  made  no  at- 
tack that  morning,  May  4,  and  a  violent  storm  lasting  all  the  after- 
noon prevented  any  movement.  That  night  Hooker's  whole 
army  recrossed  the  Rapidan,  and  then  the  Rappahannock,  and 
daylight  of  the  5th  of  May  found  them  fast  making  their  way 
back  to  their  old  camps  opposite  Fredericksburg.  As  has  been 
said,  Sedgwick's  Corps  and  our  Division  (Gibbon's)  recrossed 
the  same  night  at  Banks'  Ford.  Lee  made  no  attempt  to  follow, 
being  prevented  mainly  by  the  rapidly  rising  river. 

Hooker  left  his  killed  and  wounded  behind,  and  lost  14  guns 


168  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

and  over  20,000  stands  of  arms.  Our  loss  is  reported  at  17,197 
in  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  being  12,197  in  killed  and  wound- 
ed, and  5,000  missing;  and  that  of  the  enemy  13,000,  over  10,000 
killed  and  wounded,  and  about  3,000  missing. 

Bryant  reports  the  loss  as  follows:  "Federal  losses  17,000,  of 
whom  12,000  were  killed  and  wounded,  and  5,000  missing;  of 
the  killed  and  wounded,  7,000  were  in  the  corps  of  Sedgwick  and 
Sickles,  and  4,400  in  those  of  Slocum,  Couch  and  Howard,  and 
only  600  in  those  of  Meade  and  Reynolds ;  of  the  missing  nearly 
one-half  were  from  Howard's  corps.  Confederate,  13,000,  of 
whom  10,300  were  killed  and  wounded,  and  2,700  missing".  An- 
other writer,  speaking  of  Howard's  defeat,  says :  "The  rout  of 
Howard's  Corps  was  possible  only  from  the  greatest  neglect  of  all 
military  precautions" ;  and  further  says :  "The  blame  of  this  sur- 
prise cannot  however  fairly  be  laid  upon  Hooker". 


iUTENANT  Joshua  A.  Gage. 

1861.  May  12,  1864 

As  Sergeant. 
to  Second  Lieutenant,  July  19,  186 
:d  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  1863. 
pottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va.,  May  12,  18 


Sergeant  John  E.   Rockwell. 

Aug.  26,  1861.  Sept.  10,  1864. 

As  Corporal. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant,  Sept.  i,  1863. 

Wounded  at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va.,  May  12,  1864. 

Mustered  out  with  Company,  Sept.  10,  1864. 


COMPANY  D. 


J  ••  ••    *•  •"'    ( 


PORAL    ElLERY   J.    H01.COMB. 

;86i.  May  12,  1864. 

As  Private, 
ted  to  Corporal,  March  14,  1863. 
i  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  i852. 
ottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va.,  May  12,  1864. 


CoRPOiiAL   Peter  W.  Scheik. 


Aug.  26.  1861.  June  30.  1863. 

Reinlisted  March  30,  1S64.     Veteran. 

Captured  at  Petersburg.  Va.,  June  22,  1864. 

Prisoner  from  June  22.  1S64  to  .May  17,  1865. 

Promoted   to  Corporal,   Co.  K  ,  Jan.  i,  1865. 

Mustered  out  with  that  Co.,  June  30,  1865. 


18631  INVASION   OF  PENNSYLVANIA  1G9 


CHAPTER    XV 


INVASION    OF    PENNSYLVANIA. 


GENERAL  LEE  had  resolved  to  make  another  invasion  of  the 
North,  this  time  on  a  scale  that  he  believed  would  enable 
him  to  dictate  terms  of  peace  for  the  South  by  the  capture 
of  some  of  the  principal  Northern  cities.  He  reorganized  his  army 
into  three  Corps  and  placed  them  under  the  command  of  Generals 
Longstreet,  Ewell  and  A.  P.  Hill,  numbering  nearly  100,000  men 
with  15,000  cavalr}'  under  Stuart.  With  this  army,  the  largest 
and  by  far  the  best  equipped  the  Confederacy  ever  placed  in  the 
field,  he  started  early  in  June  up  the  Shenandoah  Valley  to  Win- 
chester, and  on  the  24th  and  25th  of  June  crossed  the  Potomac 
once  more  into  Maryland,  almost  within  sight  of  the  battlefield 
of  Antietam. 

General  Hooker,  suspecting  some  movement  of  Lee,  tried  by  re- 
connoissance  to  ascertain  where,  first  by  sending  Sedgwick  to 
cross  the  Rappahannock  river  four  miles  below  Fredericksburg 
where  Franklin  crossed  the  December  before,  who,  pushing  for- 
ward, found  the  enemy  in  force  behind  their  works  on  the  heights, 
but  gained  no  other  information.  General  Pleasanton  was  then 
sent  with  a  large  force  of  cavalry  and  a  brigade  of  infantry  to 
the  north ;  he  struck  the  rebels  at  Brandy  Station,  where  he  had 
a  short  but  severe  engagement,  and  he  there  learned  of  Lee's 
movement  northward.  Hooker  immediately  put  his  army  in 
motion  to  follow  Lee,  but  by  the  time  he  got  started  Lee  was  in 
Winchester,  having  surprised  General  Milroy  commanding  there, 
whom  he  forced  to  retire,  losing  about  2,300  prisoners. 

Up  to  this  time  we  remained  quietly  in  our  camp  around  Fal- 
mouth, moving  our  camp  on  May  9th  to  a  more  pleasant  location. 
The  paymaster  again  visited  us  on  May  24th,  this  time  giving  us 
two  months'  pay.  On  May  loth,  Colonel  Morehead  left  us  to 
take  command  of  the  First  Brigade,  taking  Adjutant  Pleis  as 


170  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

his  A.  A.  A.  G.,  leaving  Lieutenant  Colonel  Curry  in  command 
of  the  Regiment  and  Lieutenant  Steel,  of  Company  B,  Acting- 
Adjutant. 

Quite  a  number  of  changes  were  made  in  our  officers  since  the 
beginning  of  this  year.  Captain  R.  W.  P.  Allen  of  Company  C 
was  discharged  to  accept  promotion ;  Captain  Francis  H.  Acliuff 
of  Company  E  and  Lieutenant  Benjamin  F.  Sloanaker  of  Company 
C  were  discharged  on  account  of  wounds ;  Captain  P.  J.  Hallowell 
of  Company  B  and  T.  J.  Fimple  of  Company  K  on  account  of 
disability,  which  necessitated  the  following  promotions :  First 
Lieutenant  James  C.  Lynch  of  Company  A  to  Captain  of  Com- 
pany B,  and  the  following  First  Lieutenants  to  be  Captains  of 
their  respective  companies :  John  W.  Lynch  of  Company  C, 
Salatial  R.  Townsend  of  Company  E,  Lynford  D.  C.  Tyler  of 
Company  H,  and  Francis  Wessels  of  Company  K.  The  follow- 
ing non-commissioned  stafif  officers  to  be  commissioned  officers : 
Sergeant  Majors  Theodore  Wharton  and  James  C.  Biggs  to  be 
Second  Lieutenants  and  then  First  Lieutenants,  and  William  A. 
Hagy  to  be  Second  Lieutenant,  and  the  following  Sergeants  to  be 
Lieutenants  of  their  respective  companies :  Charles  S.  Schwartz 
of  Company  A  to  Second  and  then  to  First  Lieutenant,  and  Wil- 
liam M.  Casey  to  Second  Lieutenant,  William  H.  Smith  of  Com- 
pany B  to  Second  Lieutenant,  Harry  Neville  of  Company  C  to 
Second  and  then  to  First  Lieutenant,  Joshua  A.  Gage,  Company  D 
to  Second  Lieutenant,  Jacob  M.  Miller  of  Company  E  to  Second 
and  then  to  First  Lieutenant,  Clark  Whitmoyer  of  Company  F  to 
Second  Lieutenant,  John  F.  Hassett  of  Company  H  to  Second  and 
then  to  First  Lieutenant,  and  William  B.  Rose  to  Second  Lieuten- 
ant, William  A.  Hughes,  Company  I  to  Second  Lieutenant,  Wil- 
liam May,  Company  K  to  Second  and  then  to  First  Lieutenant, 
and  Horace  B.  Rutherford  to  Second  Lieutenant. 

On  June  14th,  orders  were  received  to  prepare  to  move  at  once 
and  to  destroy  all  things  that  would  not  be  needed  while  on  the 
march  or  could  not  be  carried,  but  not  to  make  any  fires,  as  the 
attempt  to  destroy  them  by  fire  would  have  revealed  our  inten- 
tions to  move  to  the  enemy,  so  everything  was  either  cut,  torn  or 
broken  to  pieces.  The  wagons  were  all  loaded  and  sent  to  the 
rear,  but  the  tents  were  left  standing  until  after  dark.     Some  of 


1863]  INVASION   OF  PENNSYLVANIA  171 

the  men  amused  themselves  stuffing  old  clothes  and  stood  them 
up  in  different  parts  of  the  camp  with  old  guns  fastened  to  them, 
so  that,  from  a  distance,  they  looked  very  much  like  men  on  guard, 
yet  presented  a  very  comical  appearance  when  close,  and  we  had 
a  good  laugh  at  thern.  After  tattoo  or  about  9  o'clock,  we  were 
ordered  in  line  and  soon  started.  We  had  gone  only  about  three 
miles  and  got  safely  across  a  large  swamp,  wetting  ourselves  al- 
most to  the  knees,  when  we  were  ordered  back  to  camp,  where 
we  arrived  about  1 1  o'clock  and  told  to  rest.  So,  wet  as  we  were, 
we  were  soon  asleep,  but  not  long  to  remain  so,  as  at  3  o'clock  we 
were  awakened  and  again  ordered  in  line,  and  went  as  far  as 
Division  Headquarters,  were  halted  again  and  kept  there  until 
after  daylight ;  we  then  started  in  earnest  and  pushed  on  rapidly, 
arriving  at  Stafford  Court  House  about  10  o'clock,  having  made 
ten  miles ;  we  halted  about  an  hour  and  a  half  and  then  continued 
our  march.  The  weather  then  became  very  warm,  the  sun  so 
hot  that  a  great  many  of  the  men  were  sunstruck,  and  nearly  one 
half  of  the  men  gave  out,  causing  heavy  straggling,  so  that  when 
we  crossed  the  Chopawamsic  near  x\quia  creek,  and  went  into 
camp  about  a  mile  beyond,  we  had  marched  about  eighteen  miles, 
and  there  was  only  about  one  half  of  each  command  present.  It 
was  one  of  the  hottest  days  we  had  experienced,  and  then  being 
loaded  down  with  our  full  accoutrements  and  three  days'  rations, 
and  extra  ammunition,  the  men  could  hardly  get  along.  Over 
500  in  our  Corps  alone  were  sunstruck  or  overcome  with  the  heat, 
some  dropping  in  the  ranks  as  they  marched  along.  The  writer 
was  one  of  them ;  without  a  moment's  notice  as  he  was  marching 
at  the  head  of  the  Regiment,  he  dropped  in  his  tracks  as  though 
shot  down,  and  unconscious  w^as  lifted  to  one  side  of  the  road, 
placed  in  the  shade,  and  left,  how  long  he  remained  there  he 
knew  not.  but  late  in  the  afternoon  he  regained  consciousness 
and  realized  his  danger  of  capture,  as  not  a  vestige  of  our  troops 
were  in  sight,  so  gathering  up  his  remaining  strength  he  started 
after  the  retreating  column.  Just  before  dark  he  reached  the 
Chopawamsic  creek  and  halted  long  enough  to  take  a  good  bath, 
w'hich  cooled  his  heated  body  and  greatly  benefited  him.  so  that 
he  continued  his  lonely  march  greatly  improved.  He  did  not 
see  one  of  his  comrades  from  the  time  he  dropped  in  the  ranks. 


172  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1S63 

until  about  dark  when  he  caught  up  with  the  rear  of  the  army, 
and  about  9  o'clock  reached  the  camp  of  his  regiment  and  was 
soon  asleep.  Had  he  delayed  his  march  much  longer  he  would 
have  been  captured  as  the  enemy  followed  closely  on  his  heels 
and  reached  our  outposts  about  the  same  time  he  reached  his  regi- 
mental camp.     Several  of  the  cases  proved  fatal. 

About  2  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  i6th  we  were  again 
under  arms,  and  before  daylight  again  tramping  along;  our  Bri- 
gade was  on  the  advance,  the  Seventy-Second  leading.  We 
arrived  at  Dumfries  at  7  o'clock,  making  nine  miles  before  break- 
fast ;  halted  for  about  two  hours,  drew  rations,  got  our  breakfast 
and  then  continued  our  march  until  about  3  o'clock,  then  halted  for 
half  an  hour,  and  at  4  o'clock  reached  the  Occoquan  Creek  at  Wolf 
Run  Shoals,  which  we  waded,  and  moved  about  a  mile  farther 
and  camped ;  we  had  made  that  day  twenty  miles.  It  was  another 
very  hot  day,  and  large  numbers  of  the  men  were  overcome  by 
the  heat,  so  that  when  we  arrived  at  the  Occoquan  Creek  nearly 
all  took  advantage  of  the  fine  opportunity  for  a  good  bath  and 
swim  in  its  clear,  deep  and  cool  waters,  so  that  very  few  went 
into  camp  with  the  regiments,  and  many  of  those  who  did  came 
back  to  enjoy  a  bath,  which  was  very  refreshing. 

On  the  17th,  left  camp  about  8  o'clock  and  marched  about  eight 
miles  to  Sangster's  Station  on  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Rail- 
road, and  not  very  far  from  Fairfax  Station,  and  formed  in  line 
of  battle  facing  Bull  Run;  remaining  there  on  the  i8th,  and  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  19th  pushed  on  to  Centreville,  arriving  there 
about  5  o'clock. 

On  the  20th,  about  12  o'clock,  we  left  camp,  passed  through 
Centreville  and  over  the  battlefield  of  Bull  Run,  still  showing 
marks  of  the  hard-fought  battle  on  the  trees  and  fences,  some  of 
them  completely  riddled  with  bullets  or  cut  in  two  with  shot  or 
shell ;  carcasses  of  horses  scattered  all  around,  giving  out  their 
foul  odors,  and,  worst  of  all,  the  hastily-made  graves  for  those 
w^hose  lives  had  been  required  of  them,  with  scarcely  dirt  enough 
on  them  to  cover  their  bodies.  From  one,  the  knee  of  a  man  was 
sticking  out,  another  the  hand  and  foot,  another  the  greater  part 
of  the  head ;  the  hand  and  foot  of  another  man  was  lying  in  a 
ditch,  and  further  on  the  bones  of  a  man's  leg ;  these  were  seen 


1863]  INVASION   OF  PENNSYLVANIA  173 

just  as  we  passed  along  the  road.  What  must  have  been  the  case 
had  one  gone  over  the  field?  It  seemed  hard  to  give  one's  life 
for  their  country  and  harder  yet,  so  long  after  the  battle,  not  to 
be  decently  buried,  or  at  least  have  dirt  enough  to  cover  one's 
bones ;  our  pioneers  were  finally  detailed  to  fill  up  the  graves  and 
bury  the  loose  bones. 

We  arrived  at  Gainesville  about  dark,  where  we  thought  we 
would  rest  for  the  night,  but  after  a  short  rest  on  we  went,  passed 
through  Haymarket  about  8  o'clock  and  pushed  on  to  Thorough- 
fare Gap,  where  we  arrived  about  ii  o'clock;  it  raining  all  after- 
noon and  evening.  Our  Brigade  only,  going  that  far,  the  rest 
of  the  corps  lying  between  Gainesville  and  Haymarket ;  we 
having  made  a  march  of  twenty-one  miles,  and  that  part  after 
leaving  Ha^'market  was  very  hard  on  us,  the  road  being  muddy, 
rough  and  stony ;  the  night  being  very  dark,  we  would  tumble 
over  large  stones  or  into  mud  puddles,  so  that  when  we  arrived 
at  the  Gap  we  were  nearly  exhausted ;  and,  tired,  wet  and  hungry, 
we  threw  ourselves  down  to  sleep,  a  sleep  that  only  worn-out 
soldiers  can  enjoy ;  we  were  worn  out  then,  and,  I  think  it  would 
have  been  almost  impossible  to  have  gone  any  further.  On  the 
morning  of  the  2ist,  moved  up  into  position  on  the  mountain  and 
posted  pickets  down  on  the  western  side,  on  a  slight  elevation 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  in  advance  of  our  line. 

We  remained  at  the  Gap  unmolested  until  June  25.  Our  posi- 
tion, a  very  pleasant  one,  afforded  us  a  fine  view  of  the  surround- 
ing country;  stretching  far  away  in  front  of  us,  lay  the  beautiful 
Loudon  A^alley  reaching  to  the  Blue  Ridge  in  the  distance ;  to 
our  left  and  rear  a  fine,  level  plain,  comprising  part  of  Prince 
William  County,  through  which  we  had  just  marched ;  to  our 
right  the  high  mountains  continuing  their  rugged  sides  north- 
ward until  cut  in  two  by  the  Potomac,  and  thence  on  into  Mary- 
land as  the  Catoctin  Mountains ;  even  our  line  of  battle  added 
to  the  picture,  formed  with  the  right  resting  on  the  side  of  the 
mountain  extending  southward,  the  Seventy-Second  Regiment 
on  the  right,  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  on  their  left,  the  battery 
with  the  Sixty-Ninth  and  Seventy-First  Regiments  formed  in  the 
rear;  thus  were  we  prepared  to  meet  an  attack  and  dispute  the 
passage  of  the  enemy  at  that  point. 


174  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

At  daylight  on  that  day,  June  25th,  our  pickets  were  attacked ; 
the  Seventy-Second  Regiment  was  sent  out  double-quick  to  their 
relief,  followed  soon  after  by  the  Sixty-Ninth,  but  the  enemy  not 
pressing  their  attack,  those  regiments  were  relived  by  the 
Seventy-First  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixth,  as  soon  as  they  got 
their  breakfast,  so  that  they  could  return  to  their  camps  for 
theirs.  Shortly  after  the  Brigade  was  withdrawn  and  started  to 
rejoin  the  corps  at  Haymarket,  but  had  gone  but  a  little  way 
when  they  were  halted  and  formed  in  line  of  battle,  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment  supporting  the  battery.  About 
noon  again  fell  back,  and  when  about  a  mile  from  Haymarket, 
while  marching  along  the  road,  the  rebels  ran  a  light  battery  into 
position  on  a  slight  elevation,  on  the  right  of,  and  about  four  hun- 
dred yards  from  the  road,  and  opened  on  us  with  shot  and  shell, 
one  of  the  latter  bursting  in  Company  I  of  our  Regiment,  wound- 
ing four  men,  and  one  man  in  Company  C ;  other  shots  knocked 
over  two  of  our  caissons ;  one  we  righted  and  got  along,  the  other 
we  had  to  leave ;  one  of  our  batteries  was  soon  run  into  position 
and  returned  their  shots  and  soon  dismounted  one  of  their  guns 
and  drove  them  far  from  their  position.  Upon  reaching  Hay- 
market we  left  the  main  road ;  turning  to  the  left,  we  made  for 
the  Potomac  so  as  to  cross  into  Maryland,  and  arrived  at  Gum 
Spring  about  9  o'clock  and  camped,  having  marched  about  twenty- 
three  miles — the  latter  part  in  a  drizzling  rain  over  muddy  roads, 
coating  our  pants  with  clayey  mud  up  to  the  knees,  making  them 
very  heavy  and  wet.  x^s  we  were,  when  we  halted  for  the  night 
without  stopping  to  clean  them  off,  we  went  to  sleep  and  slept 
soundly. 

These  sudden  changes  of  position,  the  long  and  hurried  marches 
to  make  them,  in  different  directions,  and  the  haste  in  which  they 
were  made,  necessarily  provoked  anxiety  to  know  why,  and 
rumors  as  to  the  cause  found  rapid  transit.  Among  those,  then 
currently  believed,  was  that  the  Second  Corps  was  cut  off  from 
the  rest  of  the  army,  by  Stuart  pushing  forward  his  cavalry  and 
occupying  the  road  between  Gainesville  and  Centreville — that 
Hancock's  orders  were  to  withdraw  from  Thoroughfare  Gap  and 
join  the  army  at  Centreville.  To  have  executed  that  order  would 
have  placed  him  at  the  mercy  of  Stuart,  who  had  selected  a  strong 


1863]  IXl'ASION   OF  PENNSYLVANIA  175 

position,  covering  the  road  leading  to  Centreville,  and  with  his 
whole  force  well  posted  and  supported  by  artillery,  would  have 
given  him  a  decided  advantage  over  us.  But  Hancock  was  equal 
to  the  emergency.  Knowing  that  Stuart  was  so  posted,  he  pro- 
posed to  keep  him  there,  and  knowing  also  that  the  objective 
point  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  Maryland  and  perhaps 
Pennsylvania,  after  Lee,  if  he  could  not  join  it  at  Centreville,  he 
could  in  Maryland ;  so  he  hastily  writes  a  dispatch  to  General 
Hooker  at  Centreville,  saying  that  he  would  put  his  corps  in 
motion  for  that  place  via  Gainesville,  and  would  be  there  that 
evening;  he  then  sent  an  orderly  full  speed  in  that  direction, 
knowing  that  he  would  not  go  far  before  he  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy,  and  the  dispatch  would  reveal  Hancock's  intentions 
and  make  them  wait  there  to  receive  him,  and  allow  him  to  pro- 
ceed on  his  way  unmolested ;  he  therefore  made  direct  for  the 
Potomac  by  taking  a  small  road  that  branched  off  to  the  left  of 
Haymarket,  and  pushed  on  rapidly  to  Gum  Spring,  where  as 
has  been  said  we  arrived  about  9  o'clock  that  night,  thus  putting 
a  long  day's  march  between  his  command  and  Stuart.  It  was  also 
said  that  General  Hooker  did  not  know  what  had  become  of  the 
Second  Corps  until  it  turned  up  in  Maryland.  As  to  their  full 
truth  the  writer  is  unable  to  say ;  but  this  much  was  known,  that 
we  were  making  as  fast  as  we  could  towards  Centreville  until 
the  attack  at  Haymarket,  when  almost  immediately  the  main  road 
was  left  and  the  small  road  taken,  even  after  some  of  the  troops 
had  passed  it  and  they  had  to  come  back  to  it — that  with  consid- 
erable turning  and  rapid  marching,  which  was  kept  up  till  nearly 
midnight,  we  reached  Gum  Spring,  a  distance  of  about  twenty- 
three  miles. 

After  a  night  of  continuous  rain,  6  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  26th  found  us  again  moving  fast,  and  a  march  of  twelve  miles 
brought  us  to  Edwards'  Ferry  about  noon,  where  we  rested  until 
dark,  when  we  moved  down  to  the  Ferry,  but  were  not  able  to 
cross  until  10  o'clock  at  night ;  we  then  went  about  a  mile  further 
and  camped,  sleeping  once  more  on  the  soil  of  Maryland.  Back 
once  more  in  "Maryland  my  Maryland."  We  remained  in  camp 
on  the  27th  until  about  2  o'clock  when  we  again  continued  our 
march,  passing  through  Poolesville  about  4  o'clock  and  Barns- 


176  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

ville  late  at  night,  and  after  going  two  miles  further  stopped  for 
the  night,  having  marched  about  sixteen  miles. 

It  was  here  that  the  writer  had  rather  an  uncomfortable  ex- 
perience, which  goes  to  make  up  a  soldier's  life.  Being  very  tired 
when  we  halted  for  the  night,  he,  together  with  the  comrade*  that 
nearly  always  slept  beneath  the  same  blanket,  prepared  to  get 
what  sleep  the  rest  of  the  night  afiforded,  without  waiting  for 
supper,  and  selected  a  spot  behind  a  large  boulder,  spread  down 
the  gum  blanket,  taking  ofif  coat  for  a  pillow,  and  shoes  for  com- 
fort, covered  themselves  with  the  woolen  blanket  and  went  to 
sleep.  It  was  a  disturbed  sleep ;  without  being  fully  awake,  the 
writer  was  conscious  of  being  used  to  satisfy  the  hunger  of  a 
number  of  some  small  insects,  and  as  the  bites  would  occur  on 
different  parts  of  the  body,  was  aware  of  scratching  to  relieve 
them,  and  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  "graybacks"  or  the 
"soldier's  body-guard",  as  some  called  them,  had  suddenly  made 
their  home  with  him,  and  knoiving,  as  every  soldier  ahvays  did 
know,  that  they  must  have  come  from  somebody  else,  felt  not  very 
well  disposed  towards  his  comrade  with  whom  he  shared  his 
blanket,  who  also  seemed  far  from  enjoying  his  rest;  was  finally 
aware  that  his  companion  got  up  and  left  him  before  it  was  yet 
day,  and  shortly  after,  just  as  day  was  breaking,  the  writer  also 
left  his  bed  in  no  very  pleasant  humor.  Going  to  a  fire  nearby 
he  found  his  companion  seated  there  with  his  elbows  on  his  knees, 
supporting  his  head  with  his  hands,  looking  into  the  fire  as  glum 
as  the  writer  felt,  and  found  that  he  had  not  rested  any  better, 
and  entertained  the  same  very  complimentary  opinion  of  the 
writer  as  the  writer  did  of  him.  Each  declaring  that  he  was  not 
in  that  condition  before,  began  an  examination  of  their  clothing, 
when  instead  of  "graybacks"  what  was  their  surprise  to  find  their 
tormentors  to  have  been  large  black  ants,  a  number  of  their  bodies 
being  found  among  the  clothes  of  each,  killed  by  our  scratching, 
and  our  bodies  having  the  appearance  of  being  affected  with  the 
measles.  Going  to  where  we  slept,  we  found  large  quantities  of 
them  among  the  blankets,  dead,  partly  dead,  and  alive.  After 
expressing  ourselves  in  no  very  complimentary  or  choice  terms 

*Gustavus  Josephs  of  Company  E. 


18G3]  INVASION   OF  PENNSYLVANIA  177 

to  the  ants,  we  had  a  g-ood  laugh  at  ourselves,  accusing  each  other 
of  being  the  innocent  cause  of  our  loss  of  sleep  and  rest. 

Leaving  camp  about  9  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  28th  we 
passed  through  Urbana  about  noon,  then  on  and  went  into  camp 
at  Monocacy  Junction,  within  four  miles  from  Frederick,  march- 
ing about  ten  miles. 

On  the  29th  General  Hooker,  at  his  own  request,  was  relieved 
from  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  Major  General 
George  G.  Meade,  then  commanding  the  Fifth  Corps,  was  appoint- 
ed his  successor  who  upon  assuming  command  issued  the  follow- 
ing order,  characteristic  of  the  man.  Discarding  all  the  bom- 
bastic utterances  of  his  predecessors,  he  made  no  promises  nor 
held  up  to  his  men  any  visionary  victories  or  conquests,  but  rely- 
ing on  the  loyalty  of  the  Army,  and  the  hand  of  Providence,  to 
shape  future  events. 

Headquarters  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
June  28th,  1863. 
By  direction  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  I  hereby  as- 
sume command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  As  a  soldier,  in 
obeying  this  order — an  order  totally  unexpected  and  unsolicited — 
I  have  no  promises  or  pledges  to  make.  The  country  looks  to  this 
army  to  relieve  it  from  the  devastation  and  disgrace  of  a  hostile  in- 
vasion. Whatever  fatigues  and  sacrifices  we  may  be  called  upon 
to  undergo,  let  us  have  in  view  constantly  the  magnitude  of  the 
interests  involved,  and  let  each  man  determine  to  do  his  duty,  leav- 
ing to  an  all-controlling  Providence  the  decision  of  the  contest.  It 
is  with  just  diffidence  that  I  relieve  of  the  command  of  this  army 
an  eminent  and  accomplished  soldier,  whose  name  must  ever 
appear  conspicious  in  the  history  of  its  achievements  ;  but  I  rely 
upon  the  hearty  support  of  my  companions  in  arms  to  assist  me  in 
the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  important  trust  which  has  been 
confided  to  me.  George  G.  Meade, 

Major-General  commanding. 

This  change  was  a  great  surprise  to  the  whole  army,  and  com- 
ing as  it  did  upon  the  eve  of  an  important  battle,  in  the  middle 
of  a  campaign,  was  likely  to  prove  disastrous.  The  "swapping 
of  horses  in  crossing  a  stream"  has  always  been  condemned,  but 
the  men  had  now  got  used  to  these  sudden  changes  of  command- 
ers and  positions  and  were  prepared  to  do  their  duty. 


178  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

On  the  same  day  Brigadier  General  Alexander  S.  Webb,  of 
the  Regular  Army,  assumed  command  of  our  Brigade,  relieving 
General  Owen.  This  was  another  unexpected  change  and  a  man 
we  knew  nothing  about,  but  soon  found  that  he  was  a  soldier  in 
the  full  acceptation  of  the  word. 

Early  on  that  morning,  June  29th,  we  noticed  the  rest  of  the 
Corps  moving  off  and  wondered  why  we  received  no  orders  to 
move,  especially  as  the  rest  of  the  Division  had  gone,  and  began 
to  think  w^e  had  been  left  behind  on  purpose  to  guard  the  city  of 
Frederick,  and  were  congratulating  ourselves  that  at  last  we  were 
going  to  have  what  the  boys  called  a  "soft  snap",  when  an  aide 
rode  hurriedl}'  into  our  camp,  inquiring  for  General  Webb  ;  he  was 
directed  to  him,  and  instantly  the  assembly  was  sounded  and  we 
were  ordered  to  move,  and  soon  started.  It  appears  that  the 
orders  sent  to  the  rest  of  the  Corps  to  move  early  did  not  reach 
us,  and  it  was  not  until  nearly  all  had  left  that  it  was  discovered; 
the  change  of  our  Brigade  commander  principally  being  the  cause. 
It  was  after  8  o'clock  when  we  left  camp  and  brought  up  the  rear 
of  the  Corps  behind  the  First  Division ;  crossed  the  Monocacy 
Creek  and  passed  to  the  right  of  Frederick,  and  then  left  the 
Corps ;  turning  off  the  pike  to  the  left  took  the  road  to  Liberty 
and  again  struck  the  Monocacy,  but  at  this  place  there  was  no 
bridge,  so  we  were  compelled  to  wade,  and,  being  over  knee  deep, 
the  men  stopped,  as  they  usually  did,  to  take  oif  their  shoes  and 
stockings  and  roll  up  their  pants,  but  General  Webb  found  that 
was  taking  too  much  time  and  he  was  anxious  to  make  up  for  that 
lost,  so  he  ordered  the  men  to  wade  right  in,  and  jumping  from 
his  horse  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  stream  until  the  whole  Brigade 
had  passed,  ordering  each  man  that  hesitated  to  move  on  at  once ; 
of  course,  this  met  with  the  disapproval  of  the  men,  who  were  not 
backward  in  expressing  their  feelings  in  terms  not  very  compli- 
mentary to  the  General,  and  the  remarks  might  have  been  heard 
by  him  had  he  chosen  to  listen.  One  of  the  Sixty-Ninth  Regi- 
ment, more  bold  than  the  rest  and  with  his  natural  Irish  bluntness, 
addressed  as  he  passed:  "Sure  it's  no  wonder  ye  can  stand  there 
when  ye  are  leather  up  to  your  waist".  The  General  having  on 
a  pair  of  long  boots  that  came  up  above  his  knees.  This  created 
a  good  laugh  by  those  who  heard  it ;  he  paid  no  attention  whatever, 


1863]  INVASION   OF  PENNSYLVANIA  179 

but  continued  to  order  his  men  forward  and  remained  there  until 
the  last  man  had  crossed. 

It  was  here  that  Captain  Breintenbach  of  Company  G,  got  him- 
self into  trouble  by  trying  to  evade  those  orders  of  General 
Webb,  meant  to  apply  to  officers  as  well  as  men,  by  trying  to  cross 
the  creek  on  a  log  instead  of  wading.  He  had  got  about  half 
way  across  when  seen  by  the  General,  who  ordered  him  back  and 
placed  him  in  arrest.  This  worried  the  Captain  very  much,  and 
fearing  the  consequences,  he  appealed  to  Dr.  McLean,  our  Assis- 
tant Surgeon,  to  help  him  out  of  the  scrape,  and  the  Doctor,  ever 
ready  to  relieve  his  suffering  comrades,  at  once  gave  him  a  certifi- 
cate that  'iiis  pre-disposition  to  rheumatism  rendered  his  wading 
through  the  creek  dangerous  to  his  health".  Fortified  with  that, 
the  Captain  appeared  before  the  General,  and  after  a  lecture  on 
the  example  of  "disobedience  of  orders"  he  had  set  the  men,  and 
a  reprimand,  he  was  released  from  arrest  and  returned  to  duty, 
greatly  relieved  in  mind. 

Not  leaving  camp  on  time,  on  account  of  the  orders  not  being 
received,  we  lost  our  position  in  line,  which,  that  day,  was  the 
right  or  advance  of  the  whole  Corps,  and  General  Webb  was  am- 
bitious enough  to  try  and  regain  it,  and  did  not  want  to  lose  any 
time,  and,  as  has  been  stated,  turned  off  the  main  road  and,  march- 
ing at  quick  time  without  any  halt,  we  arrived  at  the  junction  of 
the  two  roads  just  as  the  advance  of  the  First  Division  had  passed, 
and  as  we  could  not  break  into  their  column  we  had  to  wait  until 
the  whole  division  passed.  We  had  marched  three  miles  further 
by  that  road  and  gained  the  length  of  that  division,  but  had  to 
wait  and  take  the  same  position  that  we  started  in  that  morning, 
in  their  rear.  We  arrived  at  Liberty  at  noon,  where  a  long  halt 
was  made,  but  General  Webb  moved  on  and  took  our  position  in 
line  just  as  the  Division  was  about  to  move  again,  so  we  had  to 
continue  right  on  without  any  rest ;  the  balance  of  the  Division 
having  had  over  half  an  hour's  rest,  yet  we  had  then  marched 
about  nineteen  miles  and  needed  rest,  but  had  to  continue  on  with- 
out any.  We  passed  through  Johnsville  and  Union  Bridge ;  at 
each  place  the  ladies  supplied  us  with  cool  drinking  water  and 
some  milk,  others  pies,  bread  and  butter ;  being  on  the  advance  we 
got  the  best.     In  Company  A  of  our  Regiment  was  a  fine  glee 


180  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

club,  and  when  passing  through  these  towns,  notwithstanding 
their  long  march  and  tired  condition,  they  began  singing,  which 
was  soon  taken  up  by  the  whole  Regiment ;  this  amused  the  in- 
habitants and  cheered  the  boys,  and  made  them  forget  their 
fatigues  and  freshened  them  for  the  rest  of  their  march.  Con- 
tinuing our  march  through  Muttonville  we  arrived  at  Uniontown 
about  9  o'clock  at  night,  and  about  a  mile  further  on  went  into 
camp  completely  used  up.  This  was  the  longest  days'  march  we 
ever  made,  our  Brigade  having  marched  thirty-five  miles  in  about 
fourteen  hours ;  three  miles  further  than  the  rest  of  the  Corps. 

Did  not  leave  camp  on  the  30th,  and,  were  mustered  for  pay,  and 
sad  to  relate  that  it  was  the  last  muster  of  many  who  answered 
to  their  names  that  day,  not  even  living  to  draw  the  pay  for 
which  they  were  that  day  mustered;  many  of  them  were  laid  to 
rest  on  Gettysburg's  hallowed  field. 


Sergeant  HiiNuv  C.  Veil. 

Aug.  26,  1861.  Aug.  13,  1862. 

Died  at  Harrison's  Landing,  Va.,  Aug.  13,  1862 


Sergeant  Ciles  M.  Chons. 
Aug.  26,  1861.  June  30,  1865. 

As  Private. 

Re-enlisted,  Dec.  29,  1863.     Veteran. 

Promoted  to  Corporal,  July  11,  1862. 

Promoted  to  Commissary  Sergeant  of  Battalion, 

Oct.  I,  1864. 

Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  1862, 

Discharged,  Nov.  i,  1864. 


COMPANY  D. 


John    I).    I'lRNER. 

Aug   26,  1861.  Dec.  13,  1862. 

Discharged,  Dec.  13,  i852.     Disability. 


1863]  GETTYSBURG  181 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

GETTYSBURG. 

IT  is  not  the  purpose  of  the  writer  to  attempt  to  give  a  full 
account  of  this  great  contest,  the  greatest  battle  that  was 
fought  during  the  Rebellion.  This  has  been  well  done  by 
those  far  more  competent,  possessing  greater  ability  and  with  far 
greater  resources  than  he  who  pens  these  lines  possesses  or  could 
command,  so  that  he  will  merely  confine  himself  to  the  main 
movements  so  far  as  they  relate  to  the  circumstances  that  brought 
about  the  important  services  rendered  by  this,  one  of  Pennsyl- 
vania's best  Regiments,  of  which  the  writer  is  proud  to  have  been 
one  of  the  humblest  of  its  members,  and  of  the  Brigade  to  which  it 
was  attached. 

As  has  been  stated,  the  Brigade  remained  in  camp  near  Frizel- 
berg,  Md.,  during  June  30th,  but  early  on  the  morning  of  July 
1st  we  were  again  on  our  way,  marching  towards  Gettysburg 
where  the  two  armies  were  fast  concentrating.  Leaving  camp 
about  7  o'clock,  going  back  through  Uniontown,  thence  to  Taney- 
town,  both  in  Carroll  County,  Maryland,  arriving  at  the  latter 
about  1 1  o'clock,  where  we  halted  until  near  three  in  the  afternoon, 
when  ordered  to  proceed  with  all  haste  to  Gettysburg.  At  5 
o'clock,  crossed  the  line  into  Pennsylvania,  our  own  favored 
State,  still  pushing  on  at  a  rapid  pace  ;  camped  for  the  night  about 
9  o'clock,  on  the  eastern  slope  of  Little  Round  Top,  west  of  the 
Taneytown  Road,  about  three  miles  from  Gettysburg;  having 
marched  about  eighteen  miles.  Thus  was  the  first  day  of  that 
fight  spent  by  us,  pushing  rapidly  forward.  We  could  hear  the 
distant  booming  of  the  artillery,  and  during  the  afternoon  and 
night,  the  wounded  of  Reynolds'  and  Howard's  commands  were 
passing  us  to  the  rear.  About  i  o'clock,  we  heard  of  the  death  of 
Pennsylvania's  noble  son  and  brave  soldier.  General  John  F.  Rey- 
nolds, and  our  Corps  was  deprived  of  its  commander.  General 
Hancock,  who  was  sent  forward  by  General   Meade  to  assume 


182  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

command  of  the  First  and  Eleventh  Corps,  and  so  place  them  as 
to  hold  the  enemy  in  check  until  the  rest  of  the  army  could  arrive. 
General  Gibbon  assumed  command  of  the  Corps  and  General 
Harrow  our  Division. 

General  Lee,  in  the  latter  part  of  June,  had  invaded  Pennsyl- 
vania with  the  largest,  finest  and  best-equipped  army  the  Confed- 
eracy had  ever  placed  in  the  field,  numbering  100,000  men,  divided 
into  three  Corps.  The  First,  under  Lieutenant-General  James 
Longstreet,  contained  the  Divisions  of  McLaws,  Pickett  and  Hood; 
the  Second,  under  Lieutenant-General  Robert  S.  Ewell,  contained 
the  Divisions  of  Early,  Rodes  and  Johnson,  and  the  Third, 
under  Lieutenant-General  A.  P.  Hill,  contained  the  Divisions  of 
Anderson,  Heth  and  Pender,  and  the  Cavalry  Corps,  consisting  of 
eight  Brigades  under  Major-General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  was  making 
preparations  to  move  on  Harrisburg,  with  his  army  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Chambersburg  and  Carlisle  and  York.  Hearing  of 
the  advance  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  his  rear,  he  abandon- 
ed this,  and  began  concentrating  his  force  east  of  the  mountains ; 
Gettysburg  being  designated  as  the  probable  point.  Meade  was 
also  fast  pushing  his  forces  forward  to  overtake  him  via  Man- 
chester, Taneytown  and  Emmitsburg.  Meade  intended  to  con- 
centrate his  army  at  Pipe  Creek,  fifteen  miles  southeast  of  Gettys- 
burg, and  there  await  Lee's  attack,  but  the  battle  having  begun 
at  Gettysburg  he  hurried  his  troops  forward  to  that  point  as  rapid- 
ly as  possible.  The  First  Corps  tmder  General  Reynolds  was  ad- 
vanced from  the  southwest  via  Emmitsburg,  followed  by  the 
Eleventh  Corps  under  General  Howard.  General  Reynolds  being 
in  the  command  of  the  left  wing,  consisting  of  the  First,  Third 
and  Eleventh  Corps  and  the  First  Cavalry  Division,  turned  over 
the  command  of  his  Corps  to  General  Doubleday,  pushing  on 
beyond  the  town  of  Gettysburg,  found  the  Cavalry  under  General 
Buford,  engaged  with  Heth's  division  of  Hill's  Corps,  that  had 
moved  from  Cashtown,  about  eight  miles,  at  5  o'clock  that  morn- 
ing and  engaged  Buford  a  little  after  sunrise.  Buford  dismounted 
most  of  his  men  and  fought  them  as  infantry  and  held  the  enemy 
in  check  for  two  hours.  Wadsworth  arrived  with  his  Division 
of  the  First  Corps  from  Marsh  Run,  about  four  miles,  about  9 
o'clock ;  and  at  once  struck  the  enemy  under  Hill  advancing  from 


1863]  GETTYSBURG  183 

Chanibersburg,  near  Willoughby  Run,  between  the  Hagerstown 
and  Mummasburg  road,  forcing  back  Buford's  Cavalry.  It  was 
about  8.30  A.  M  when  General  Reynolds  arrived  on  the  field,  and 
almost  before  his  advanced  troops  were  in  position  and  became 
engaged,  he  was  instantly  killed  in  the  edge  of  McPherson's 
woods,  a  little  south  of  the  Chambersburg  pike.  There  is  much 
diversity  of  opinion  as  to  the  time  of  his  death.  Veil,  the  orderly 
who  was  with  him  when  he  died,  writes,  "General  Reynolds  ar- 
rived on  the  field  about  8.30  a.  m. — he  was  killed  from  a  half  to 
three-quarters  of  an  hour  afterwards".  This  about  agrees  with 
Colonel  Bean's  statement  and  that  of  Buford's  scout,  Mr.  Garri- 
son, and  fixes  the  time  of  his  death  much  earlier  than  usually 
given,  or  not  later  than  9.30  a.  m.  This  is  also  verified  by  mem- 
bers of  Baxter's  Brigade,  Robinson's  Division,  who  were  the  last 
of  the  First  Corps  to  get  into  position  on  the  right  of  the  line 
about  9.30  or  9.45  a.  m.,  who  state  that  General  Reynolds  was 
killed  before  they  took  their  position.  This  was  a  great  loss  to 
our  army.  He  had  risen  rapidly  to  the  command  of  his  Corps, 
and  was  solicited  to  take  command  of  the  army  when  Hooker 
was  relieved,  but  declined  in  favor  of  Meade.  He  fell  defending 
his  native  state,  but  left  three  brothers  still  fighting  for  their 
covmtry.  General  Meade  felt  his  loss  keenly  and  spoke  of  his 
death  as  follows,  "Reynolds  was  the  noblest  as  well  as  the  bravest 
gentleman  in  this  army.  When  he  fell  at  Gettysburg,  the  army  lost 
its  right  arm",  and  General  Devens  in  an  address,  speaking  of  his 
death,  said,  "Yet  where  could  man  meet  better  the  inevitable 
hour,  than  in  defence  of  his  native  state,  his  life's  blood  ming- 
ling with  the  soil  on  which  he  first  drew  breath".  Buford's 
Cavalry  having  withdrawn,  the  First  Corps  alone  fought  the 
Divisions  of  Heth  and  Pender,  numbering  about  15.000  according 
to  their  own  reports.  Doubleday  says  the  First  Corps  took  in 
but  8,200  muskets.  About  ii  o'clock  General  Howard  arrived 
in  advance  of  his  Corps  and  learning  of  the  death  of  General  Rey- 
nolds, at  once  assumed  command  of  the  field.  It  was  about  i 
o'clock  when  the  Eleventh  Corps  began  to  arrive,  and  about  2 
o'clock  when  their  first  division  was  placed  in  position  on  the 
north  of  the  town  to  the  right  of  the  Mummasburg  road.  Thus 
from  early  morning  until  after  2  o'clock,  the  First  Corps  alone 


184  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

had  nobly  resisted  the  efforts  of  Hill  to  force  them  back,  except 
from  their  position  near  Willoughby  Run,  to  that  east  of  Semin- 
ary Ridge.  The  Eleventh  Corps,  commanded  by  General  Carl 
Schurz,  was  placed  in  position  on  the  north  of  the  town,  occupy- 
ing- the  whole  clear  space  between  the  Mummasburg  road  and 
Rock  Creek,  but.  failing  to  make  connections  on  their  left  with  the 
right  of  the  First  Corps,  left  a  gap  of  which  the  enemy  after- 
wards took  advantage.  Shortly  after  3  o'clock  Ewell  just  ar- 
rived from  Heidlersburgh,  attacked  the  Eleventh  Corps.  Bar- 
low's Division  on  the  right  gallantly  met  the  assault  and  stayed 
it,  but  was  soon  overwhelmed  by  the  front  assault  of  Rodes,  and 
the  flank  attack  of  Early.  The  left  of  Schimmelpfinnig's  Division 
gave  way  before  the  skirmish  line  of  Dole's  Georgia  Brigade, 
who  advanced  into  the  opening  now  increased  between  it  and  the 
right  of  the  First  Corps,  and  this  front  and  flank  assault,  with 
Early  on  the  other  flank,  soon  sent  the  whole  Eleventh  Corps  back 
into  the  town  in  utmost  confusion.  In  the  meantime  Hill  con- 
tinued to  press  Doubleday,  forcing  him  back,  and  part  of  his 
Corps  that  came  back  through  the  town  from  the  west  became 
entangled  with  the  fugitives  of  the  Eleventh  Corps  coming  in 
from  the  north ;  this  increased  the  confusion,  and  the  retreat  al- 
most became  a  rout.  Robinson's  Division  of  the  First  Corps, 
however,  fell  back  across  the  fields  towards  the  Emmitsburg 
road  to  Cemetery  Ridge,  fighting  Hill,  who  was  pressing  them  on 
three  sides. 

General  Howard  had  sent  word  to  General  Slocum,  command- 
ing the  Twelfth  Corps,  which  was  lying  at  Two  Taverns,  about 
five  miles  away,  to  come  to  his  assistance,  but  Slocum  declined 
without  orders  from  General  Meade.  What  was  left  of  the  two 
Corps  were  making  their  way  as  fast  as  possible  to  the  position 
held  by  Steinwehr's  Division  of  the  Eleventh  Corps,  which  had 
been  held  in  reserve  on  Cemetery  Hill. 

It  was  between  3.00  and  3.30  p.  m.  that  General  Hancock  arrived 
to  assume  command  and  in  time  to  witness  this  disaster.  He 
found  all  chaos  and  confusion  and  at  once  arrested  the  further 
retreat,  promptly  made  his  disposition  of  the  small  force  at  his 
command  and  presented  so  bold  a  front  that  Lee,  w^ho  had  just 
arrived,  called  a  halt  and  held  a  consultation  with  his  subordinates. 


1863]  GETTYSBURG  185 

This  enabled  Hancock  to  perfect  his  arrangement  and  the  rest 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  arrive.  And  the  night  of  July 
1st  closed  a  victory  for  the  enemy  with  our  lines  withdrawn  to 
the  heights  south  of  Gettysburg,  known  as  Cemetery  Hill,  ex- 
tending south  from  the  Baltimore  pike  in  a  series  of  heights  and 
hills  to  the  Round  Tops  situated  between  the  Taneytown  and 
Emmitsburg  roads.  Our  loss  in  this  day's  fight  in  the  First  Corps 
was  5.750  out  of  the  8,200  engaged.  Robinson's  Division  alone, 
which  was  the  last  to  leave  the  field,  lost  1,667  o^^t  of  2,500.  That 
of  the  Eleventh  Corps  2,500  and  the  cavalry  300.  total  8,550. 

General  Howard  reports  his  loss  at  4,000,  but  as  he  had  only 
7.400  in  his  Corps  and  one  Division,  Steinwehr's,  was  left  in 
reserve,  except  Coster's  Brigade,  which  was  brought  forward  late 
in  the  afternoon  and  engaged  for  a  short  time,  so  that  Howard 
could  have  only  taken  in  about  5,500  muskets,  and  to  claim  a 
loss  of  4,000  of  that  number  is  unreasonable;  however,  as  1,500 
stragglers  were  gathered  up  by  the  Twelfth  Corps,  who  were,  no 
doubt,  included  in  General  Howard's  estimate,  I  allow  the  differ- 
€nce  (2,500)  as  the  actual  loss,  which  is  even  then  large,  as  they 
were  not  engaged  long  enough  to  meet  with  so  heavy  loss ;  three- 
fifths   are  those  who  were  taken  prisoners. 

The  enemy  admits  a  loss  of  between  7,000  and  8,000,  only 
827  of  them  in  front  of  the  Eleventh  Corps.  They  brought  into 
the  fight  over  27,000  men,  as  follows:  Heth,  7,500;  Pender,  7,500; 
Rodes,  8,000,  and  Early,  5,000,  while  our  forces  numbered 
Ibut  17,800:  Doubleday,  8,200;  Howard,  7,400;  Buford,  2,200. 

As  this  appointment  of  General  Hancock  was  at  the  time,  and 
has  since  been,  the  cause  of  much  controversy,  and  his  assuming 
that  authority  and  selecting  the  ground  and  posting  the  troops 
questioned,  the  writer  takes  the  liberty  to  give  some  statements 
bearing  upon  these  facts. 

General  Meade,  in  his  testimony  before  the  Committee  on  the 
•Conduct  of  the  War,  says : 

I  directed  Major  General  Hancock  to  proceed  without  delay  to 
the  scene  of  the  contest,  and  I  directed  him  to  make  an  examina- 
tion of  the  ground  in  the  neighborhood  of  Gettysburg  and  to  re- 
port to  me  without  loss  of  time  the  facilities,  and  advantages  and 
disadvantages  of  the  ground   for  receiving  battle.     I   furthermore 


186  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SI  NTH  REGIMENT         [18G3 

instructed  him  that  in  case,  upon  his  arrival  at  Gettj-sburg,  he 
should  find  the  position  vinsuitable.  and  the  advantage  on  the  side 
of  the  enemy,  he  should  examine  critically  as  he  went  out  there, 
and  report  to  me  the  nearest  position  in  the  immediate  neighbor- 
hood of  Gettysburg  where  a  concentration  of  the  army  would  be 
more  advantageous  than  at  Gettysburg. 

General  Howard  questioned  the  authority  of  this  appointment 
and  is  reported  by  General  Doubleday*  as  saying,  upon  Hancock's 
arrival  and  notifying  him  of  his  orders :  "Why,  Hancock,  you 
cannot  give  any  orders  here !  I  am  in  command,  and  I  rank 
you !",  but  requested  him  to  remain  and  assist  him  in  re-organiz- 
ing the  troops.  But  Hancock  assumed  the  command,  and  as  he 
found  all  chaos  and  confusion  and  the  troops  rapidly  falling  back, 
he  took  immediate  steps  to  arrest  them,  and  gave  his  orders  in 
his  powerful  and  inspiring  voice  that  at  once  made  its  effects 
felt  upon  the  men,  and  riding  tip  to  General  Doubledav,  then  com- 
manding the  First  Corps,  he  said :  "General  Doubleday,  I  com- 
mand this  field,  and  I  wish  yoti  to  send  a  regiment  over  to  that 
hill",  pointing  to  Gulp's  Hill.  Doubleday  also  recognizing  the 
importance  of  that  prominent  position  at  once  sent  Wadsworth's 
Division  of  his  Corps  and  occupied  Gulp's  Hill,  then  designated 
by  Hancock  as  "the  key  of  the  right  flank",  and  Howard's  Corps 
was  massed  on  Cemetery  Hill  to  prevent  any  further  advance  of 
the  enemy  at  that  point.  Hancock  was  then  prepared  to  hold 
his  position  until  the  arrival  of  the  rest  of  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac. So  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  General  Hancock  select- 
ing and  occupying  the  position  where  this  battle  was  fought. 
That  General  Reynolds  may  have  so  intended  is  also  shown  by 
his  directing  General  Howard  to  leave  one  of  his  Divisions  in  that 
locality.  General  Howard  also  lays  claim  to  having  selected 
Cemetery  Hill,  and  strengthens  his  claim  by  the  fact  that  he  had 
left  one  of  his  Divisions  in  position  there.  But  it  is  not  probable 
that  he  would  have  taken  the  responsibility  to  leave  behind  sa 
much  of  his  command  without  instructions  from  General  Rey- 
nolds. But  neither  can  lay  any  claim  to  selecting  Gulp's  Hill, 
which,  if  taken  possession  of  by  the  enemy  that  night,  our  posi- 
tion on  Cemetery  Hill  would  have  been  untenable. 

*(Doubleday's  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg,  page  151.) 


1863]  GETTYSBURG  187 

Our  army  was  fast  arriving.  General  Meade  was  now  aware 
of  the  importance  of  rapidly  concentrating"  his  whole  force  at 
Gettysburg,  and  at  once  ordered  the  different  corps  commanders 
to  push  on  with  all  speed.  The  Twelfth  Corps,  under  General 
Slocum,  arrived  that  evening  from  "Two  Taverns",  and  assisted 
in  strengthening  the  position  selected  by  Hancock.  General 
Slocum  being  the  senior  officer  assumed  command  and  General 
Hancock  returned  to  his  Corps,  which,  under  Gibbon,  was  also 
fast  approaching  Gettysburg ;  after  reporting  to  General  Meade 
the  strength  of  the  position  he  had  selected,  which  decided  Meade 
to  concentrate  his  army  on  that  ridge.  General  Slocum  placed 
his  Corps  on  the  right  towards  Gulp's  Hill  as  a  reserve,  with  the 
exception  of  Geary's  Division,  which  he  sent  to  the  left  towards 
Little  Round  Top.  The  Third  Corps,  under  General  Sickles, 
w^ith  the  exception  of  Humphreys'  Division,  was  the  next  to  ar- 
rive from  Emmitsburg  and  took  position  on  the  left  center.  The 
march  of  Humphreys'  Division  being  interrupted  by  the  enemy 
obtaining  possession  of  the  Emmitsburg  road,  was  compelled  to 
move  back  and  join  the  Corps  by  another  route,  arriving  after 
daylight.  At  9  o'clock  at  night  the  Second  Corps  arrived  from 
Taneytown  and  bivouacked  for  the  night  on  the  eastern  slope 
of  Little  Round  Top,  between  it  and  the  Taneytown  road.  The 
Fifth  Corps,  under  General  Sykes,  came  by  way  of  Hanover  and 
did  not  arrive  upon  the  field  until  about  i  o'clock  of  July  2d,  and 
it  was  after  2  o'clock  when  the  Sixth  Corps,  commanded  by 
General  Sedgwick,  arrived  from  Manchester. 

At  3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  July  2d  we  were  awakened  with 
orders  to  get  ready  to  move  at  once.  At  daylight  we  left  camp 
and  after  a  march  of  two  miles  our  Brigade  was  massed  in  a  field 
on  the  right  of  the  Taneytown  road  and  addressed  by  General 
Webb.  He  had  been  with  us  but  three  days ;  the  men  knew  noth- 
ing of  him,  and  their  experience  at  the  Monocacy  Creek  had  the 
effect  to  make  him  unpopular;  but  that  short  address  in  which 
he  told  them  that  they  would  now  be  called  upon  to  defend  their 
own  state  by  hard  fighting,  that  it  would  require  each  man  to  do 
his  full  duty  to  defeat  the  elated  enemy,  and  appealed  to  each  to 
cheerfully  do  his  duty,  and  then  told  them  that  any  one  found 
shirking  it  in  the  slightest  degree  w^ould  be  severely  dealt  with, 


188  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SI  NTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

that  he  would  shoot  any  one  leaving  the  line,  and  called  on  any 
man  to  do  the  same  to  him  if  he  failed  in  his  duty,  told  them  that 
they  had  a  commander  that  would  not  fail  in  his  duty  nor  allow 
the  men  to  fail  in  theirs ;  and  when  the  fight  was  over  they  knew 
that  he  had  proved  himself  to  be  all  they  could  expect — one  of  the 
bravest  officers  of  the  Army- 

At  6  o'clock  our  Division,  now  commanded  by  General  Gibbon 
— as  General  Hancock  had  resumed  command  of  the  Corps — 
was  put  in  position  on  Granite  Ridge,  as  it  was  then  called,  now 
known  as  East  Cemetery  Ridge,  on  the  left  of  the  Third  Division 
of  our  Corps,  commanded  by  General  Alexander  Hays,  with  the 
First  Division,  under  General  Caldwell,  on  our  left.  Our  Bri- 
gade was  placed  on  the  right  of  the  Division,  the  Third  Brigade 
under  Hall,  on  our  left,  and  the  First  Brigade  under  Harrow,  in 
reserve.  Cushing's  Battery,  Fourth  U.  S.  Artillery  was  on  our 
right,  and  Battery  B,  First  Rhode  Island,  commanded  by  Lieuten- 
ant Brown,  on  our  left :  the  Sixty-Ninth  Regiment  was  advanced 
over  the  crest  of  the  hill  to  a  fence,  or  low  stone-wall,  about  fifty 
yards  in  front  of  the  Battery,  and  the  other  Regiments  back  under 
cover  of  the  hill.  The  One  Flundred  and  Sixth  Regiment,  com- 
manded by  Lieutenant-Colonel  William  L.  Curry,  was  in  reserve 
as  above  stated,  under  cover  of  the  hill,  and  Companies  A  and 
B  were  detailed  as  skirmishers,  and  were  advanced  beyond  the 
Emmitsburg  road — Company  A  deployed  and  Company  B  in 
reserve. 

During  the  morning  General  Meade  rode  up  to  our  position  and 
in  conversation  desired  to  know  the  position  and  strength  of  the 
enemy  in  our  front.  General  Webb  quickly  volunteered  to  advance 
his  Brigade  and  ascertain ;  this  General  Meade  refused,  as  the 
movement  of  so  large  a  force  might  bring  on  an  engagement,  for 
which  he  was  not  fully  prepared,  and  directed  him  to  send  that 
company,  indicating  the  company  in  reserve,  on  the  picket  line. 
General  Webb  sent  word  to  Captain  John  J.  Sperry  of  Company 
A.  commanding  the  Brigade  picket  line,  to  advance  the  Company, 
then  Iving  in  reserve,  on  the  picket  line  west  of  the  Emmitsburg 
road,  and  uncover  the  enemy.  This  was  Company  B  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania,  commanded  by  Captain 
James  C.   Lvnch.     He  advancing  due   west,   crossed  two  fields, 


1863]  GETTYSBURG  189 

a  sunken  road,  and  into  the  third,  a  triangular  field  with  a  wood 
extending  on  the  south  side.  In  this  wood  he  met  the  enemy  in 
force,  then  gradually  withdrew  back  within  our  picket  line,  and 
reported  to  General  Webb. 

In  the  meantime  the  Third  Corps,  under  Sickles,  was  moved 
into  position  on  the  left  of  our  Corps,  to  occupy  the  ground  be- 
tween us  and  Round  Top  and  prolong  our  line.  Finding  this 
ground  much  lower  and  affording  an  opportunity  for  the  enemy 
to  occupy  a  crest  at  the  Emmitsburg  road  and  command  his  posi- 
tion, General  Sickles,  on  his  own  responsibility,  advanced  his 
Corps  down  to  the  Emmitsburg  road,  and  retired  his  left  until  it 
reached  the  foot  of  Little  Round  Top;  thus,  as  he  thought,  ful- 
filling General  Meade's  orders  to  join  Hancock's  left  and  let  his 
left  extend  to  Round  Top.  This  was  beyond  doubt  a  grave  error, 
as  the  subsequent  events  proved,  and  especially  was  it  an  error 
to  form  his  lines  at  right  angles,  so  that  the  enemy  advancing 
from  either  direction  would  enfilade  his  line,  and  a  battery  firing 
upon  the  front  of  either  line  would  rake  the  flank  of  the  other. 

The  movement  of  this  Corps  into  their  position  was  a  beauti- 
ful sight  to  those  upon  the  crest  of  Cemetery  Ridge.  The  writer 
was  in  such  a  position  as  to  have  a  fine  view,  and  never  will  he 
forget  the  grandeur  of  that  movement  and  the  fierce  conflict  that 
subsequently  followed.  Before  these  troops  were  in  position  the 
enemy  were  advancing  to  attack  them.  General  Birney  directed 
one  of  his  batteries  to  open  upon  their  moving  column ;  this  was 
immediately  replied  to  by  their  battery  on  the  extreme  left,  and 
the  battle  ma}'  be  said  to  have  commenced,  for  as  each  battery 
opened  it  imcovered  another  on  the  opposite  side,  and  so  on  until 
nearly  two  hundred  and  sixty  pieces  were  belching  forth  their 
storm  of  shot  and  shell,  making  the  earth  fairly  tremble  with  their 
thunder  and  roar,  their  deadly  missiles  flying  and  exploding  in 
every  direction,  being  principally  directed  upon  Sickles'  lines. 
Their  infantry  then  swept  down  upon  Sickles'  forces,  especially 
against  his  left,  his  whole  line  fighting  in  open  fields  without  any 
defences,  contesting  with  a  valor  that  was  unsurpassed,  yet  forced 
to  yield.  Line  after  line  was  crushed  by  the  flank  and  direct 
assault ;  rallying  again  in  the  new  position,  and  in  turn  assaulting 
the  enemy,  only  to  be  again  repulsed,  until  finally  driven  from  the 


188  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT        [1863 

that  he  would  shoot  any  one  leaving  the  line,  and  called  on  any 
man  to  do  the  same  to  him  if  he  failed  in  his  duty,  told  them  that 
they  had  a  commander  that  would  not  fail  in  his  duty  nor  allow 
the  men  to  fail  in  theirs ;  and  when  the  fight  was  over  they  knew 
that  he  had  proved  himself  to  be  all  they  could  expect — one  of  the 
bravest  officers  of  the  Army. 

At  6  o'clock  our  Division,  now  commanded  by  General  Gibbon 
— as  General  Hancock  had  resumed  command  of  the  Corps — 
was  put  in  position  on  Granite  Ridge,  as  it  was  then  called,  now 
known  as  East  Cemetery  Ridge,  on  the  left  of  the  Third  Division 
of  our  Corps,  commanded  by  General  Alexander  Hays,  with  the 
First  Division,  under  General  Caldwell,  on  our  left.  Our  Bri- 
gade was  placed  on  the  right  of  the  Division,  the  Third  Brigade 
under  Hall,  on  our  left,  and  the  First  Brigade  under  Harrow,  in 
reserve.  Cushing's  Battery,  Fourth  U.  S.  Artillery  was  on  our 
right,  and  Battery  B,  First  Rhode  Lsland,  commanded  by  Lieuten- 
ant Brown,  on  our  left ;  the  Sixty-Ninth  Regiment  was  advanced 
over  the  crest  of  the  hill  to  a  fence,  or  low  stone-wall,  about  fifty 
yards  in  front  of  the  Battery,  and  the  other  Regiments  back  under 
cover  of  the  hill.  The  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment,  com- 
manded by  Lieutenant-Colonel  William  L.  Curry,  was  in  reserve 
as  above  stated,  under  cover  of  the  hill,  and  Companies  A  and 
B  were  detailed  as  skirmishers,  and  were  advanced  beyond  the 
Emmitsburg  road — Company  A  deployed  and  Company  B  in 
reserve. 

During  the  morning  General  Meade  rode  up  to  our  position  and 
in  conversation  desired  to  know  the  position  and  strength  of  the 
enemy  in  our  front.  General  Webb  quickly  volunteered  to  advance 
his  Brigade  and  ascertain ;  this  General  Meade  refused,  as  the 
movement  of  so  large  a  force  might  bring  on  an  engagement,  for 
which  he  was  not  fully  prepared,  and  directed  him  to  send  that 
company,  indicating  the  company  in  reserve,  on  the  picket  line. 
General  Webb  sent  word  to  Captain  John  J.  Sperry  of  Company 
A.  commanding  the  Brigade  picket  line,  to  advance  the  Company, 
then  lying  in  reserve,  on  the  picket  line  west  of  the  Emmitsburg 
road,  and  uncover  the  enemy.  This  was  Company  ?>  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania,  commanded  by  Captain 
James  C.   Lvnch.     He  advancing  due   west,   crossed  two  fields, 


1863]  GETTYSBURG  189 

a  sunken  road,  and  into  the  third,  a  triangular  field  with  a  wood 
extending  on  the  south  side.  In  this  wood  he  met  the  enemy  in 
force,  then  gradually  withdrew  back  within  our  picket  line,  and 
reported  to  General  Webb. 

In  the  meantime  the  Third  Corps,  under  Sickles,  was  moved 
into  position  on  the  left  of  our  Corps,  to  occupy  the  ground  be- 
tween us  and  Round  Top  and  prolong  our  line.  Finding  this 
ground  much  lower  and  affording  an  opportunity  for  the  enemy 
to  occup}^  a  crest  at  the  Emmitsburg  road  and  command  his  posi- 
tion. General  Sickles,  on  his  own  responsibility,  advanced  his 
Corps  down  to  the  Emmitsburg  road,  and  retired  his  left  until  it 
reached  the  foot  of  Little  Round  Top ;  thus,  as  he  thought,  ful- 
filling General  Meade's  orders  to  join  Hancock's  left  and  let  his 
left  extend  to  Round  Top.  This  was  beyond  doubt  a  grave  error, 
as  the  subsequent  events  proved,  and  especially  was  it  an  error 
to  form  his  lines  at  right  angles,  so  that  the  enemy  advancing 
from  either  direction  would  enfilade  his  line,  and  a  battery  firing 
upon  the  front  of  either  line  would  rake  the  flank  of  the  other. 

The  movement  of  this  Corps  into  their  position  was  a  beauti- 
ful sight  to  those  upon  the  crest  of  Cemetery  Ridge.  The  writer 
was  in  such  a  position  as  to  have  a  fine  view,  and  never  will  he 
forget  the  grandeur  of  that  movement  and  the  fierce  conflict  that 
subsequently  followed.  Before  these  troops  were  in  position  the 
enemy  were  advancing  to  attack  them.  General  Birney  directed 
one  of  his  batteries  to  open  upon  their  moving  column ;  this  was 
immediately  replied  to  by  their  battery  on  the  extreme  left,  and 
the  battle  may  be  said  to  have  commenced,  for  as  each  battery 
opened  it  uncovered  another  on  the  opposite  side,  and  so  on  until 
nearly  two  hundred  and  sixty  pieces  were  belching  forth  their 
storm  of  shot  and  shell,  making  the  earth  fairly  tremble  with  their 
thunder  and  roar,  their  deadly  missiles  flying  and  exploding  in 
every  direction,  being  principally  directed  upon  Sickles'  lines. 
Their  infantry  then  swept  down  upon  Sickles'  forces,  especially 
against  his  left,  his  whole  line  fighting  in  open  fields  without  any 
defences,  contesting  with  a  valor  that  was  unsurpassed,  yet  forced 
to  yield.  Line  after  line  was  crushed  by  the  flank  and  direct 
assault ;  rallying  again  in  the  new  position,  and  in  turn  assaulting 
the  enemy,  only  to  be  again  repulsed,  until  finally  driven  from  the 


190  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

centre  position.  The  contest  sweeping  around  until  reaching 
the  foot  of  Little  Round  Top,  contesting  for  the  possession  of  that 
hill,  each  side  at  different  times  gaining  and  losing  ground,  be- 
ginning at  Sherfy's  peach  orchard,  on  the  Emmitsburg  road,  back 
through  the  wheatfield  into  that  place  now  so  well  known  as 
Devil's  Den,  the  enemy  advancing  to  the  foot  of  Little  Round  Top, 
then  around  its  left  between  it  and  Big  Round  Top,  where  they 
were  beaten  back  by  Vincent's  Brigade  that  was  detached  by 
General  Warren  from  Barnes'  Division  of  Sykes'  Corps,  while  on 
its  way  to  support  Sickles,  and  had  just  been  placed  in  position 
on  Little  Round  Top.  Caldwell's  Division  of  our  Corps  that  was 
sent  to  support  Birney's  left,  became  heavily  engaged ;  at  first 
driving  the  enemy  back  through  the  wheatfield  and  into  the  woods 
beyond,  then  were  forced  back  again  over  that  wheatfield,  until  a 
charge  of  Crawford's  Division  of  Pennsylvania  Reserves  finally 
drove  the  enemy  back  and  ended  the  contest  there.  Humphreys' 
Division,  Sickles'  right,  was  likewise  beaten  back  from  their  posi- 
tion on  the  Emmitsburg  road.  This  took  the  support  from  our 
left,  and  the  Second  Division  of  the  First  Corps,  under  General 
Doubleday,  was  ordered  forward. 

In  the  meantime  the  Eighty-Second  New  York  and  the  Fifteenth 
Massachusetts,  of  our  Division,  were  advanced  to  the  Emmits- 
burg road,  to  occupy  the  position  vacated  by  Humphreys,  and 
Brown's  Battery,  from  the  left  of  our  Brigade,  was  advanced  to  a 
position  in  front  of  the  Sixty-Ninth  Pennsylvania  to  cover  Sickles' 
right  flank. 

As  the  enemy  under  Hill  was  threatening  our  front,  Posey's 
Mississippi  Brigade  had  been  advanced  to  the  Bliss  House,  aclfittle 
to  the  right  of  our  Brigade  skirmish  line,  west  of  the  Emmits- 
burg road,  and  had  dislodged  the  First  Delaware  Regiment  that 
had  been  occupying  it ;  this  Regiment  fell  back  with  the  exception 
of  one  company  commanded  by  Captain  Sparks,  who  contested 
for  that  ground  but  was  finally  compelled  to  give  way,  thus  ex- 
posing the  right  flank  of  our  line  of  skirmishers,  being  Company 
A  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania,  commanded  by 
Lieutenant  Schwartz,  as  Captain  Sperry  was  in  command  of  the 
Brigade  skirmishers.  Lieutenant  Schwartz  and  Lieutenant  Casey 
were  both  wounded  and  the  company  was  falling  back.     Captain 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL  JAMES  C.   LYNCH. 

Aug.  17,  1861.  June  21,  1864. 

As  Second  Lieutenant,  Company  A. 

Promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  Jan.  31,  1862. 

Promoted  to  Captain,  Company  B,  Jan.  4.  1863. 

Promoted  to  Colonel,  183d  Reg.,  Pa. Vols.,  June  21,  1864. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3,  1863. 

Wounded  at  Bristoe  Station,  Va.,  Oct.  14,  1863. 


1863]  GETTYSBURG  191 

Lynch  left  his  company,  which  was  in  reserve,  and  went  forward 
to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  Hne  giving  way,  and  finding  the 
enemy  in  possession  of  the  house  and  pouring  a  flank  fire  upon  our 
Hne  of  skirmishers  reported  to  Captain  Sperry  that  the  BHss 
House  would  have  to  be  retaken  or  our  line  retired,  who  directed 
him  to  take  his  company  and  retake  the  house.  Captain  Lynch, 
thinking  there  was  but  a  small  force,  advanced  with  his  company 
only  to  find  the  whole  Sixteenth  Mississippi  Regiment  there,  who 
allowed  him  to  advance  very  close  to  them  and  then  demanded 
his  surrender ;  being  refused  they  opened  on  him  and  drove  him 
back  with  a  loss  of  Lieutenant  Smith  and  eleven  men.  Taking 
up  his  position  behind  the  fence  he  sent  back  for  reinforcements, 
and  General  Hays,  in  whose  front  the  house  was  located,  seeing 
the  efiforts  made  to  retake  the  house,  sent  four  companies  of  the 
Twelfth  New  Jersey  of  his  Division,  and  when  they  arrived 
Captain  Lynch  advanced  with  them,  and  together  they  captured 
the  house  and  barn  and  over  one  hundred  prisoners  of  the  Sixteenth 
Mississippi  Regiment.  This  was  a  very  important  movement, 
as  it  checked  the  advance  of  Posey's  Brigade,  which  advance  was 
to  be  the  signal  for  the  troops  on  his  left  to  advance.  Captain 
Lynch  then  returned  with  his  company  to  the  Brigade  skirmish 
line,  and  became  engaged  with  the  enemy's  skirmishers  in  his  front. 
Soon  after  both  companies  having  expended  all  their  ammunition 
sent  back  for  a  fresh  supply,  but  was  informed  by  General  Webb 
that  the  line  would  soon  be  relieved,  so  it  was  not  necessary  to 
send  out  any  ammunition.  It  was  at  this  time  that  Wright's 
Georgia  Brigade  prolonging  the  line  with  Wilcox's  Brigade,  of 
Anderson's  Division,  that  had  driven  Humphreys  back,  broke 
through  our  line,  charged  past  the  guns  of  Brown's  Rhode  Island 
Battery,  that  had  been  advanced  to  a  position  in  front  of  that  held 
by  the  Sixty-Ninth  Pennsylvania,  and  almost  reached  the  line  held 
by  that  regiment  and  Hall's  Third  Brigade,  who  were  pouring 
volley  after  volley  into  them  as  they  advanced.  General  Han- 
cock, riding  up  and  seeing  the  necessity  of  immediate  action, 
orders  forward  the  Seventy-Second  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
Pennsylvania  Regiments.  Colonel  Curry  with  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth  advanced  to  the  crest  of  the  hill  and  finding  the  enemy 
within  sixty  yards  he  opened  fire,  and  after  several  volleys,  seeing 


192  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

the  enemy  waver,  he  ordered  a  charge,  and  with  a  cheer  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  rushed  over  the  fence  upon  the  enemy,  cap- 
turing about  twenty  prisoners,  sent  them  to  the  rear,  and  continu- 
ing drove  the  rest  back  beyond  the  Emmitsburg  road,  recapturing 
the  guns  of  Brown's  Battery,  which  they  had  attempted  to  turn 
on  our  Brigade ;  these  Colonel  Curry  sent  to  the  rear  by  hand. 
It  was  at  this  time  that  Companies  A  and  B  were  going  to  the  rear 
for  ammunition  and  passed  the  Regiment  at  these  guns.  Just 
previous  to  the  charge  of  Wright,  about  twenty  men  of  our  Regi- 
ment under  Corporal  Chas.  A.  Rubright  of  Company  F,  were 
sent  forward  by  General  Webb  as  pioneers  to  cut  down  some 
small  trees  that  grew  around  a  large  hole  or  deep  indentation  in  the 
ground,  and  masked  the  fire  of  our  men.  They  had  not  completed 
their  work,  when  Wright's  men  came  upon  them  and  made  them 
prisoners,  but  the  charge  of  the  Regiment  prevented  them  taking 
them  away,  and  our  men  turned  on  their  captors  and  made  them 
prisoners,  but  not  without  resistance,  which  compelled  them  to 
kill  some  of  them  with  their  axes,  and  they  brought  in  the  rest 
as  their  prisoners.  The  Seventy-Second,  instead  of  advancing 
with  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth,  moved  down  the  line  to  the 
left  towards  Round  Top,  parallel  with  the  Emmitsburg  road, 
and  finding  the  enemy  had  retired,  they  returned  to  their  position 
with  the  Brigade.  Alluding  to  this  charge  General  Doubleday 
says : 

But  Wright  actually  reached  the  crest  with  his  Georgians  and 
turned  a  gun,  whose  cannoneers  had  been  shot,  upon  Webb's  Bri- 
gade of  the  Second  Corps.  Webb  gave  them  two  staggering 
volleys  from  behind  a  fence,  and  went  forward  with  two  regiments. 
He  charged,  regained  the  lost  piece  and  turned  it  upon  them. 

The  only  difference  being  that  there  were  three  guns  of  the 
battery,  and  they  were  sent  to  the  rear  at  once,  and  while  two  regi- 
ments went  forward  "but  one  regiment",  the  One  Hundred  and 
Sixth  Pennsylvania,  was  the  only  regiment  that  charged  Wright's 
Brigade  and  drove  them  back  beyond  the  Emmitsburg  road,  as 
the  Seventy-Second  Pennsylvania's  advance  was  to  the  left,  to- 
wards Sickles'  left,  and  not  towards  the  Emmitsburg  road. 

Had  Posey's  Brigade  not  been  checked  at  the  Bliss  House,  he 
would  have  been  supporting  Wright ;  this  would  have  advanced 


1S63J  •  GETTYSBURG  193 

Pender's  Division,  and  they  might  not  have  been  so  easily  re- 
pulsed, so  the  importance  of  Captain  Lynch's  Company  charging 
the  Bliss  House  can  now  be  appreciated ;  had  he  not  done  so,  the 
Twelfth  New  Jersey  would  not  have  been  sent  out  there,  and 
Posey  would  have  continued  his  advance,  followed  by  Pender 
and  enveloped  the  whole  of  Hays'  front. 

When  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  neared  the  Emmitsburg  road 
they  found  a  large  force  in  rear  of  a  large  frame  barn  and  brick 
house  known  as  the  "Codori  House",  from  which  an  officer 
soon  appeared,  waving  a  handkerchief  as  a  flag  of  truce.  Captain 
Ford,  of  Company  I,  called  Colonel  Curry's  attention  to  it ;  and 
he  directed  him  to  take  his  company  to  meet  it.  The  Captain 
faced  his  company  to  the  right  and,  marching  by  the  flank  with  an 
old  newspaper  fixed  on  the  bayonet  of  one  of  his  men,  advanced 
to  the  house  and  was  met  by  Captain  Snead,  of  the  Forty-Eighth 
Georgia  Regiment  of  Wright's  Brigade,  who  informed  him  that 
their  commanding  officer.  Colonel  William  Gibson,  was  danger- 
ously wounded  and  would  die  for  want  of  attention ;  and  they 
desired  to  have  him  brought  within  our  lines  for  treatment ;  that 
nearly  the  whole  regiment  stood  by  him.  Captain  Ford  informed 
him  they  would  be  glad  to  give  the  Colonel  the  attention  he  re- 
quired, and  demanded  their  instant  surrender ;  and  requested  the 
officers  to  give  up  their  swords.  This  Captain  Snead  very  much 
objected  to  do,  and  wished  to  be  allowed  to  return  with  his  men 
to  their  lines ;  saying  they  only  wanted  to  have  their  Colonel 
attended  to,  and  ought  not  to  be  made  prisoners.  Captain  Ford 
insisted  upon  immediate  compliance  with  his  request  and  received 
from  the  officers  their  swords,  and  sent  them  and  all  the  men, 
over  two  hundred,  to  the  rear,  as  prisoners  of  war ;  and  came  back 
with  both  arms  full  of  their  swords,  which  he  turned  over  to 
Colonel  Curry,  there  being,  besides  the  Colonel,  five  Captains, 
fifteen  Lieutenants  and  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  men.  The 
Regiment  had  continued  their  advance  into  the  Emmitsburg  road, 
and  Lieutenant  Rose,  of  Company  H,  with  some  men,  crossed 
the  road  and  took  possession  of  four  Parrott  guns  abandoned  by 
the  enemy,  but,  having  no  way  of  bringing  them  off  the  field,  was 
compelled  to  leave  them.  Colonel  Curry,  finding  himself  far  in 
advance  of  our  line  with  no  support  on  his  left,  and  but  a  remnant 


194  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH- REGIMENT         [1863 

of  the  Eighty-Second  New  York  on  his  right,  returned  to  his  posi- 
tion with  the  Brigade.  General  Webb  was  informed  of  the  con- 
dition of  Colonel  Gibson,  and  he  had  him  sent  by  ambulance  to 
our  hospital  for  treatment,  which  he  subsequently  received  at  the 
hands  of  Surgeon  Dwindle  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Penn- 
sylvania. Colonel  Gibson  was  a  prominent  laywer  of  Augusta, 
Georgia,  and  when  nearly  recovered  from  his  wounds,  escaped 
from  our  hospital  and  got  outside  our  lines,  but  was  subsequently 
recaptured  before  he  reached  their  lines,  and  brought  back.  He 
wrote  the  following  letter  to  Captain  Ford  while  at  the  hospital : 

Hospital  Camp,  2d  Army  Corps. 
July  30th,  1863. 
Captain  R.  H.  Ford  : 

Dear  Captain  : — I  had  hoped  to  meet  you  again  to  express  to 
you  my  thanks  for  the  kindness  and  attention  shown  me  by  you 
on  the  2d  inst.,  yet  circumstances  have  prevented,  and  I  regret  to 
learn  that  on  the  next  day  you  were  wounded,  yet  I  am  much 
gratified  to  know  you  are  fast  recovering,  and  hope  you  will  soon 
I)e  fully  restored  to  health. 

I  now  think  I  shall  recover  myself,  and  trust  that  peace  may  be 
soon  restored  to  our  unhappy  people,  and  that  I  may  have  an  op- 
portunity of  expressing  my  thanks  to  you  in  a  manner  more  agree- 
able and  pleasant  to  us  both.  Dr.  Dwindle  has  done  all  for  me 
that  I  could  wish,  and  his  kindness  to  me  will  never  be  forgotten. 
He  has  the  will  and  the  sense  to  do  his  whole  duty  to  his  fellow- 
man,  and  is  an  upright,  just  and  honorable  gentleman.  Hoping 
to  meet  soon  again,  and  as  friends  and  brothers  would  meet, 

I  am,  Captain,  very  respectfully  and  truly,  your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  Wm.  Gibson, 

Colonel  48th  Georgia  Regiment,  Augusta,  Ga. 

A  large  number  of  officers  and  men  were  also  found  in  the  cellar 
of  Codori's  large  barn  that  had  been  destroyed  by  our  artillery  fire, 
and  they  were  also  made  prisoners.  Among  them  was  Colonel 
B.  D.  Fry,  (afterward  General)  of  the  Thirteenth  Alabama  Regi- 
ment, and  his  sword  was  received  by  Captain  John  W.  Lynch  of 
Company  C,  who,  after  the  war,  returned  it  to  the  General's 
family,  and  received  a  very  complimentary  letter  from  J.  W. 
Johnson,  the  Governor  of  the  State,  dated  February  18,  1889, 
also  the  following  letter  from  the  nephew  of  General  Fry : 


1S63]  GETTYSBURG  195 

Montgomery,  Ala.,  March  6th,  1899. 
Capt.  Jno.  W.  Lynch.  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

My  Dear  Sir: — Your  kind  favor  of  the  4th  inst.,  with  en- 
closure, is  duly  to-hand,  and  I  will  at  once  deliver  your  letter  to 
Mrs.  Bibb. 

I  beg  to  thank  you,  in  the  name  of  all  the  relatives  of  General 
Fry,  as  well  as  in  my  own  name,  for  this  graceful  act,  and  to 
further  say  that  we  of  the  younger  generation  of  the  South  know 
but  one  country,  and  honor  the  brave  men  of  the  North,  who  up- 
held the  flag  in  the  time  of  great  peril,  and  realize  now,  that  it 
is  better  that  we  should  be  one  and  united,  rather  than  two 
separate  and  different  governments.  Both  sides  fought  for  what 
they  deemed  to  be  right,  and  each  were  justified  in  their  action. 

I  cannot  believe  that  the  South  would  ever  have  taken  the  posi- 
tion, industrially,  that  she  holds  to-day,  but  for  the  war,  and  I 
feel  that  her  position  is  far  in  advance  of  her  condition  under  the 
old  regime,  or  that  she  could  ever  have  been  more  than  an  agri- 
cultural country  under  the  old  system. 

Again  thanking  you  for  your  very  great  courtesy,  and  trusting 
that  should  you  ever  visit  this  section  you  will  favor  me  with  a 
call,  I  am  Yours  most  sincerely, 

Wm.  H.  Micou. 

It  was  General  Lee's  intention  that  both  flanks  of  our  army 
should  be  attacked  at  the  same  time.  The  sound  of  Longstreet's 
guns  was  to  be  the  signal  for  Ewell  to  attack,  but  Ewell  did  not 
hear  the  firing  of  Longstreet  until  after  five  o'clock,  when  he 
opened  with  his  artillery  from  Benner's  Hill  upon  our  lines  on 
East  Cemetery  and  Gulp's  Hills  soon  after.  Early  advanced  on 
East  Gemetery  Hill  and  a  gallant  charge  of  the  famous  Louisiana 
Tigers  drove  Howard's  men  from  their  position,  and  captured 
Weidrick's  New  York  Battery,  and  engaged  in  a  hand-to-hand 
contest  for  Rickett's  guns,  still  further  to  the  right,  and  almost 
gained  possession  of  the  hill,  when  Garroll's  Brigade  of  our 
Gorps,  sent  by  General  Hancock  to  reinforce  Howard,  arrived, 
drove  them  from  the  hill,  and  recaptured  the  lost  guns.  About 
the  same  time  Johnson's  Division  was  advanced  upon  our  position 
on  Gulp's  Hill,  and  by  persistent  force  drove  back  our  men. 
weakened  by  the  withdrawal  of  Geary's  Division,  that  had  been 
sent  to  help  Sickles  at  Round  Top,  so  Johnson  had  no  difficulty 
in  occupying  that  line  of  works,  but  darkness  prevented  his 
further  advance. 


196  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

Colonel  Curry,  with  his  command,  was  no  sooner  in  position 
with  the  Brigade  than  he  was  called  upon  for  a  detail  for  picket, 
to  take  the  place  vacated  by  Companies  A  and  B.  About  sixty 
men  from  the  different  companies,  under  Captain  Ford  of  Com- 
pany I  and  Lieutenant  Irvin  of  Company  D,  were  sent  out  with 
two  companies  from  the  Seventy-Second,  and  two  companies  from 
the  Sixty-Ninth  Regiments,  to  picket  the  Brigade  front.  It  was 
I'ust  before  dark  that  Colonel  Curry  was  ordered  to  move  over 
to  the  right  and  report  to  General  Howard  commanding  the 
Eleventh  Corps,  who  had  sent  an  urgent  request  for  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania,  of  his  old  Brigade,  to  support 
his  batteries ;  and  the  Regiment  immediately  moved  off  to  the 
right,  and  arrived  just  as  Carroll's  Brigade,  that  had  also  been 
sent  to  reinforce  Howard,  had  successfully  charged  the  enemy 
and  drove  them  from  the  hill,  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
was  placed  in  position  supporting  the  artillery  on  Cemetery  Hill. 
General  Howard  remarked,  that  it  was  one  of  the  regiments  of 
his  old  Brigade,  and,  turning  to  Major  Osborne,  of  his  staff. 
Chief  of  Artillery,  said,  "Major,  your  batteries  may  be  withdrawn 
when  that  regiment  runs  away". 

The  Seventy-First  Regiment  was  also  detached  from  the  Bri- 
gade and  sent  to  the  relief  of  General  Greene's  Brigade  of  Geary's 
Division,  of  the  Twelfth  Corps,  on  Gulp's  Hill,  but  in  moving 
over  in  the  darkness,  got  too  far  to  the  right,  on  account  of  part 
of  Geary's  Division  being  withdrawn  and  sent  over  to  Round  Top, 
and  ran  into  Johnson's  men,  then  occupying  Geary's  works,  came 
near  being  all  captured;  and  did  lose  Adjutant  Hutchinson,  and 
Lieutenants  Davis  and  Boughton,  and  about  twenty  men ;  so  that 
Colonel  Smith  took  the  responsibility,  and  returned  with  his  com- 
mand to  their  position  with  the  Brigade,  where  he  arrived  before 
daylight. 

The  morning  of  the  3d  of  July  the  Sixty-Ninth  Regiment  was 
still  in  the  same  position  it  held  on  the  2d — at  the  fence  in  front 
of  the  clump  of  trees  where  Cushing's  Battery  was  stationed,  and 
the  Seventy-First  Regiment  was  advanced  to  the  same  position, 
on  the  right  of  the  Sixty-Ninth,  its  left  wing  on  the  same  line 
with  it  and  the  right  wing  retired  about  fifty  yards  behind  a  stone- 
wall, extending  the  line  to  the  right,  where  its  right  joined  the 


1863]  GETTYSBURG  197 

Third  Division  of  our  Corps,  under  General  Alexander  Hays,  and 
the  Seventy-Second  Regiment  was  held  in  reserve. 

The  battle  of  the  3d  began  by  our  artillery  about  four  o'clock, 
opening  up  on  the  position  gained  by  the  enemy  under  Johnson, 
on  Gulp's  Hill  late  in  the  evening  of  the  2d ;  when  he  succeeded  in 
taking  possession  of  the  works  vacated  just  before  dark,  by  Kane 
and  Gandy's  Brigades  of  Geary's  Division ;  the  latter  sent  to  sup- 
port Sykes  at  Little  Round  Top,  and  the  former  to  reinforce  the 
left  of  Gulp's  Hill.  Johnson's  Division  occupied  the  works,  and 
for  over  three  hours  there  was  a  continual  roar  of  artillery,  in- 
termingled with  volley  after  volley  of  musketry  as  charge  after 
charge  was  made  to  force  Johnson  back,  and  his  men  trying  to 
advance  his  line,  about  9  o'clock,  when  Geary's  Division  by  a 
determined  and  combined  charge,  succeeded  in  dislodging  John- 
son, and  our  line  at  that  point  was  then  re-established,  but  at  a 
fearful  cost.  The  severity  of  that  contest  was  fully  attested  by 
the  large  number  of  trees  torn  and  shattered  by  shot  and  shell, 
and  some  literally  cut  to  pieces  by  minie  balls. 

After  the  contest  ceased  there  was  a  pause  for  several  hours ; 
almost  the  entire  force  of  both  armies  seemed  to  have  been  sur- 
feited for  a  time  by  the  roar  of  artillery  and  musketry,  and  now 
sought  rest ;  which  was  only  broken  by  the  single  shot  of  the 
sharpshooters  or  from  the  skirmish  line,  while  their  commanders 
were  planning  and  strengthening  their  positions.  About  i  o'clock 
a  single  shot  was  fired  from  their  artillery  far  in  the  rear,  on  the 
left  of  Seminary  Hill,  about  three  miles  distant,  and  that  shot, 
which  was  from  a  Whitworth  gun,  of  the  Washington  Artillery, 
came  tearing  over  near  where  our  Brigade  lay.  In  a  few  minutes 
single  shots  were  fired  from  different  points  of  their  line ;  these 
were  evidently  signal  guns  that  told  the  Ghiefs  of  Artillery  to 
open  fire  with  every  piece  they  could  bring  to  bear  upon  the  center 
of  Meade's  line,  for  in  a  few  minutes  there  burst  forth  from  along 
their  whole  line  the  most  terrific  cannonading  ever  witnessed ;  one 
hundred  and  forty  pieces  were  belching  forth  their  sheets  of  flame, 
sending  their  missiles  into  every  part  of  our  line.  Lee  from  his 
position  on  Seminary  Ridge  was  able  to  use  one  hundred  and 
forty  guns,  while  Meade  from  his  shorter  line  was  only  able  to 
use  ninetv,  thus  two  hundred  and  thirtv  guns  were  soon  engaged 


198  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

in  the  most  terrific  artillery  duel  ever  witnessed,  every  form  and 
size  of  shot  and  shell,  known  and  in  use,  were  screaming  and 
whistling  through  the  air,  dealing  death  and  destruction  in  every 
direction,  dismounting  our  guns,  exploding  our  caissons,  killing  and 
mangling  horses  and  men.  As  this  terrible  fire  was  principally 
concentrated  upon  the  position  held  by  the  Second  Corps,  their 
shot  and  shell  fell  thick  and  fast  all  around  our  Brigade,  dealing 
death  and  destruction  on  all  sides,  our  batteries  manfully  reply- 
ing under  that  terrible  fire,  until  every  ofificer  and  man  of  both 
batteries  was  either  killed  or  wounded,  their  guns  disabled  and 
both  batteries  silenced,  except  one  gun  of  Cushing's  battery,  who, 
though  wounded,  cooly  turned  to  General  Webb  and  said : 
"If  you  can  give  me  some  men  to  carry  ammunition.  I  can 
still  use  these  guns".  A  detachment  of  the  Seventy-First  Regi- 
ment promptly  volunteered,  and  though  badly  wounded  himself, 
Gushing  still  directed  its  fire.  After  two  hours  of  that  terrible 
cannonading.  General  Henry  J.  Hunt,  the  Chief  of  Meade's  Artil- 
lery ordered  a  cessation  of  fire  as  he  said  "in  order  to  see  what 
the  enemy  was  going  to  do",  and  at  the  same  time  to  replenish 
his  ammunition  and  replace  his  disabled  batteries. 

General  Webb  sent  his  Assistant  Adjutant  General.  Captain 
Banes,  of  the  Seventy-Second  Pennsylvania,  after  two  more  bat- 
teries to  replace  those  now  completely  disabled,  and  soon 
Wheeler's  Thirteenth  New  York  Battery  of  the  Eleventh  Corps 
came  swiftly  into  position  and  was  soon  followed  by  Captain 
Cowan's  First  New  York  Battery  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  and  none 
too  soon,  for  their  infantry  was  seen  emerging  from  the  wood  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Emmitsburg  road ;  column  after  column  ap- 
pearing, quickly  forming  and  steadily  advancing.  Now  our  boys 
knew  their  time  had  come.  For  nearly  two  hours  the  artillery  had 
been  thundering  forth  their  storm  of  shot  and  shell,  making  the 
ground  fairly  tremble  and  quake  beneath  that  terrible  fire :  and 
the  infantry,  powerless,  were  compelled  to  remain  inactive,  rest- 
ing on  their  arms,  knowing  full  well  that  a  terrible  assault  would 
soon  be  made,  and  would  have  to  be  met  and  stayed  by  them. 
Steadily  the  enemy's  lines  advanced  as  calmly  and  coolly  as 
though  on  parade,  quickly  closing  the  gaps  made  in  their  ranks 
by  our  artillery.     It  was  then  that  the  grandest  spectacle,  the  most 


1863]  GErTYSBURCr  199 

imposing  and  gallant  charge  of  the  war  was  to  be  seen,  Pickett's 
Division  of  noble  Virginians  were  to  make  the  final  effort  of  the 
Confederate  commander  to  pierce  our  line.  No  one  who  witness- 
ed that  grand  charge  of  Pickett's  Division  will  ever  forget  the 
grandeur  of  that  sight,  and  the  steadiness  of  the  men. 

Companies  A  and  B,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsyl- 
vania, having  replenished  their  ammunition  on  the  night  previous, 
returned  to  find  the  Regiment  gone,  and  expecting  them  to  soon 
return  they  remained  with  the  Brigade,  and  on  the  morning  of 
the  3d,  Captain  Lynch,  by  order  of  General  Webb,  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  Brigade  skirmish  line,  consisting  of  the  detail 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  under  Captain  Ford,  sent  out  the 
night  before,  and  the  two  companies  of  the  Sixty-Ninth  and 
Seventy-Second  Regiments,  leaving  Captain  Sperry  in  command 
of  Companies  A  and  B.  x\s  the  eneni}-  was  seen  advancing,  Cap- 
tain Lynch  received  orders  from  General  Webb  "to  hold  on  as 
long  as  he  could",  so  as  soon  as  their  advance  struck  his  line  he 
opened  fire,  and  as  they  closed  on  him.  he  slowly  retreating,  load- 
ing and  firing,  contesting  each  foot  of  ground  ;  this  was  well  done 
and  their  bravery,  witnessed  by  their  comrades  on  the  heights 
in  the  rear,  seemed  to  inspire  all  to  nobler  deeds.  Captain  Lynch 
held  his  men  well  in  hand,  and  by  the  directness  of  their  fire,  in 
a  measure,  checked  Garnett's  advance  and  compelled  him  to  halt 
his  command  and  commence  loading  and  firing,  no  doubt  thinking 
he  had  struck  our  first  line ;  this  was  only  temporary,  but  it 
broke  the  impetus  of  their  charge ;  then  on  they  came,  that  grand 
division  of  nearly  eighteen  thousand  men  formed  in  three  lines, 
our  shot  and  shell  making  terrible  gaps  through  their  lines,  but 
as  their  comrades  fell  they  quickly  closed  up  and  the  lines  con- 
tinued solidly  advancing.  Our  skirmishers  having  recrossed  the 
Emmitsburg  road  were  now  quickly  withdrawn,  and  the  Brigade 
opened  fire,  pouring  their  volleys  thick  and  fast,  and  Wheeler 
and  Cowan  welcoming  them  with  double-shotted  canister.  Cush- 
ing's  one  gun,  at  his  request,  had  been  run  down  to  the  line  along 
the  fence  where  the  Sixty-Ninth* was  in  position,  and  still  manned 
by  the  members  of  the  Seventy-First  Pennsylvania  and  directed 
by  the  brave  Gushing,  who  though  mortally  wounded,  assisted 
Wheeler  and  Cowan  with  canister;  and  turning  to  General  Webb 


200  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

said :  "Webb,  I  will  give  them  one  more  shot.  Good  bye",  and 
fell  dead  at  his  piece.  Yet  on  they  came ;  soon  Armistead  with 
his  brigade  is  up  to  the  fence,  and  his  ringing  command  is  heard : 
"Boys,  give  them  the  cold  steel".  And  over  the  fence  they  come, 
through  the  opening  where  Cushing's  gun  was  in  position,  into  the 
ranks  of  the  Sixty-Ninth  and  the  left  wing  of  the  Seventy-First 
Regiments,  many  of  whom  still  refused  to  yield,  and  a  terrible 
hand-to-hand  conflict  ensued ;  but  leaping  the  fence,  and  led  by 
the  brave  Armistead,  with  his  hat  on  his  sword,  were  forcing 
their  way  up  to  the  crest.  Webb  was  now  sorely  pressed,  his  first 
line  passed,  his  Brigade  almost  disappeared ;  he  had  directed  their 
fire,  but,  though  well  delivered,  did  not  keep  back  those  steadily 
advancing  columns.  He  ordered  a  charge ;  the  Seventy-First 
was  too  far  to  the  right  to  reach,  but  were  doing  good  service  by 
a  flanking  fire ;  those  of  the  Sixty-Ninth  that  were  not  killed  or 
wounded,  or  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  had  fallen  back  into  the 
lines  of  the  Seventy-Second,  and  many  joined  the  detachment  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth,  under  Captain  Sperry.  Webb  turn- 
ed to  his  remaining  regiment,  the  Seventy-Second,  and  Captain 
Lynch  spoke  up  and  said,  "General,  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
is  with  you",  and  with  those  of  the  Sixty-Ninth  that  had  joined 
them.  Captain  Sperry  advanced,  passing  the  left  of  the  Seventy- 
Second,  now  inspired  by  the  personal  gallantry  of  General  Webb, 
who,  with  sword  in  hand,  called  upon  them  to  follow  him,  and  they 
rushed  upon  the  enemy  now  advancing  towards  the  crest ;  from 
the  right,  came  the  Seventy-First,  from  the  front,  the  Seventy- 
Second,  and  from  the  left  the  battalion  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Sixth,  together,  driving  them  back  over  the  fence.  At  the  same 
time  Colonel  Hall,  commanding  the  Third  Brigade,  came  to 
Webb's  relief,  with  his  command,  and  part  of  the  First  Brigade ; 
and  Colonel  Stannard,  commanding  the  "Vermont  Brigade",  the 
Third  of  the  Third  Division  of  the  First  Corps  still  further  on  our 
left,  advanced  two  of  his  regiments  on  their  flanks,  and  poured 
into  them  terrific  volleys,  as  Webb  pressed  forward.  Seeing 
them  waver,  Webb  cried  out  "Boys,  the  enemy  is  ours",  and  like 
an  avalanche,  our  boys  fell  upon  them,  in  front  and  on  the  flank, 
driving  them  back  in  utmost  confusion.  Hundreds  of  those  brave 
men  and  color  after  color  went  down  under  that  fierce  assault 


1863]  GETTYSBURG  201 

on  front  and  flank,  our  men  passing  over  them  in  their  determina- 
tion to  drive  the  enemy  from  the  field.  No  effort  was  made  to 
keep  any  formation,  but  each  man  fighting  for  himself,  clubbing 
Tiis  musket,  using  his  bayonet,  until  the  fence  was  passed ; 
while  the  enemy,  with  their  leaders  killed,  or  badly  wounded,  had 
no  one  to  give  command,  and  those  within  our  lines  surrendered 
to  Webb,  the  rest  flying  to  the  rear  in  complete  disorder,  leaving 
three-fourths  of  their  number,  killed,  wounded,  or  prisoners  in 
our  hands.  The  battle  was  over,  and  our  line,  so  nearly  pierced, 
was  again  intact,  and  crowned  with  victory,  having  repulsed  one 
of  the  grandest  charges  ever  made  by  either  army.  And  of 
Pickett's  Division,  not  one  in  four  came  out  of  that  fight ;  of  his 
three  Brigade  commanders.  Garnett  was  killed,  Armistead  and 
Kemper  mortally  wounded.  The  total  loss  of  the  enemy  in  that 
charge  is  estimated  at  sixteen  thousand,  while  our  loss  was  not 
one-fifth  of  that  number. 

While  Pickett  was  making  that  famous  charge,  Stuart  with 
his  cavalry  attempted  to  pass  around  our  right  flank  and  had 
occupied  a  position  on  an  elevated  ground  that  gave  him  a  fine 
view  of  all  the  roads  leading  to  the  rear  of  our  army.  His  force 
numbered  about  7,000  men  and  Gregg  had  with  his  division  and 
Custer's  Brigade  altogether  numbering  about  5,000  men  to  op- 
pose him,  and  as  Stuart  advanced,  Gregg  sent  Mcintosh's  Bri- 
gade to  meet  him,  and  they  checked  his  advance,  but  Stuart,  de- 
termined to  break  through  our  line,  orders  a  charge  of  Hampton's 
and  Fitz  Hugh  Lee's  Brigades,  and  Gregg  sends  Custer's  Brigade 
to  the  assistance  of  Mcintosh  and  there  was  seen  the  fiercest 
cavalry  charge  and  the  hottest  contested  cavalry  fight  of  the  war ; 
they  met  and  sabres  flashed  as  blow  followed  blow  from  each 
side,  down  went  horses  and  men,  soon  Stuart  was  compelled  to 
give  way,  and  our  men  drove  them  from  the  field.  Both  sides 
suffered  heavy  loss. 

The  result  of  the  battle  was  a  sad  blow  to  General  Lee ;  speak- 
ing of  it  that  night  to  General  Imboden  he  said,  "Yes  it  has  been  a 
sad,  sad  day  to  us",  and  of  Pickett's  charge  said,  'T  never  saw 
troops  behave  more  magnificently  than  Pickett's  Division  of 
Virginians,  and  if  they  had  been  supported  as  they  were  to  have 
been,  but  for  some  reasons  not  yet  fully  explained,  they  were  not. 


202  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  JA'D  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

we  would  have  held  the  position  they  so  (gloriously  won  at  such 
fearful  loss  of  noble  lives,  and  the  day  would  have  been  ours.  Too 
bad,  too  bad.     Oh !  too  bad". 

General  Longstreet  describes  Pickett's  charge  as  follows : 
"Pickett's  Division  swept  past  our  artillery  in  splendid  style,  and 
the  men  marched  steadily  and  compactly  down  the  slope.  As  they 
started  up  the  ridge  over  one  hundred  guns  from  the  Federal 
breastworks  hurled  a  rain  of  canister,  grape  and  shell  down 
upon  them  ;  still  they  press  on,  until  half  way  up  the  slope,  when 
the  crest  of  the  hill  was  lit  with  a  solid  sheet  of  flame  as  the 
masses  of  infantry  rose  and  fired.  When  the  smoke  cleared  away, 
Pickett's  Division  was  gone,  nearly  two-thirds  of  his  men  were 
dead  upon  the  field." 

I  wish  now  to  correct  a  mis-statement  by  General  Doubleday. 
He  says :  "Then  came  a  splendid  charge  of  two  regiments,  led  by 
Colonel  Hall,  which  passed  completely  through  Webb's  line  and 
engaged  the  enemy  in  a  hand-to-hand  conflict."  At  no  time  was 
Webb's  line  passed  over,  or  through,  by  any  of  our  troops,  from  the 
time  his  command  was  placed  in  that  position  by  that  clump  of 
trees,  against  which  the  flower  of  the  rebel  army  was  thrown,  until 
withdrawn,  two  days  after  the  battle.  Webb  yielded  his  position  to 
no  one,  though  the  enemy  advanced  over  his  first  line,  yet  the  crest 
and  that  clump  of  trees,  which  Longstreet  said  was  their  objective 
point,  and  pointed  out  to  each  of  their  commanders,  were  not 
taken,  and  zvith  his  ozvn  Brigade,  Webb  cleared  his  own  front, 
though  ably  assisted  by  the  brave  troops  on  his  right  and  left,  who 
did  noble  service  from  their  positions ;  and  while  that  splendid 
charge  of  those  "two  regiments"  may  have  been  made,  it  certain- 
ly was  not  made  "through  Webb's  line".  And  General  Hancock, 
himself,  said,  when  speaking  at  a  banquet  on  this  battle  recently, 
that  "in  every  battle  there  must  be  one  point  on  which  every  side 
must  hinge ;  it  was  General  Webb's  good  fortune  to  be  posted 
at  that  point,  and  he  held  it". 

Prof.  Jacobs,  speaking  of  this  charge,  says: 

Seeing  them  waver.  General  Webb  cried  out :  "Boys,  the  enemy 
is  ours",  and  his  Brigade  rushed  upon  them  and  captured  800 
prisoners.  Stannard's  Brigade  took  as  many  more,  and  still  others 
were  captured,  swelling  the  number  of  prisoners  to  3.500.     Fifteen 


•-^  ^. 


'J^^-^-^ 


1863]  GETTYSBURG  203 

stands  of  colors  were  taken ;  so  sudden  and  complete  was  the 
slaughter  and  capture  of  nearly  all  of  Pickett's  men,  that  one  of  his 
officers,  who  fell  wounded  amongst  the  first  on  the  Emmitsburg 
road,  said  :  "The  whole  Division  had  disappeared  as  if  blown  away 
by  the  wind".  In  this  charge  Generals  Hancock  and  Gibbon  were 
wounded,  and  Kemper  and  Armistead  of  the  rebels,  and  Garnett 
killed. 

A  rebel  general  officer,  in  his  account  of  this  battle,  writes : 

They  reached  the  guns  of  Gibbon's  Division,  and  in  their  en- 
deavor to  capture  them,  were  literally  blown  in  fragments  from 
their  muzzles,  but  they  still  pressed  forward  over  the  rifle-pits  and 
into  the  works,  while  from  the  front,  the  right  and  the  left,  every 
Federal  gun  that  would  reach  them  was  turned  upon  them ;  and 
when  fairly  within  the  Federal  lines,  with  but  a  fraction  of  the 
gallant  brigades  that  had  started  left,  Webb  threw  his  splendid 
Brigade  against  them.  (Italics  ours.)  Garnett  was  killed,  Armi- 
stead was  mortally  wounded,  and  Kemper  lay  bleeding  upon  the 
field,  unable  to  give  a  command  or  rally  his  column  that  now, 
shattered  and  broken  by  Webb,  was  making  its  way  to  the  Confed- 
erate lines,  leaving  behind  them  as  trophies  of  their  valor  more 
than  one-third  of  their  number  dead  and  wounded,  and  as  prizes 
to  the  Federal  army  fifteen  stands  of  colors,  with  over  thirty-five 
hundred  prisoners. 

In  this  action,  Captains  Sperry  and  Ford  were  both  wounded, 
and  the  command  of  the  detachment  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Sixth  Pennsylvania  devolved  upon  Captain  Lynch,  who  withdrew 
his  men  to  the  crest,  in  rear  of  the  Seventy-Second  Regiment 
after  the  fight  had  ceased.  Shortly  afterwards.  General  Webb 
came  to  him  and  said,  "Captain,  I  consider  you  and  3'our  men  a 
picked  band,  and  should  the  attack  be  renewed,  and  should  there 
be  any  wavering  or  giving  way  of  the  troops  in  your  front,  I  want 
you  to  throw  yourselves  into  the  breach".  This  little  band,  that 
had  numbered  about  one  hundred  men,  that  had  done  so  well  and 
lost  so  heavily,  one  half  of  their  officers  and  about  one  third  of 
their  men,  now  greatly  exhausted,  slept  there  among  the  dead, 
and  rejoined  the  Regiment  when  it  returned  to  the  Brigade,  on  the 
evening  of  the  5th. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  4th.  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
Pennsylvania  was  advanced,  by  General  Ames,  commanding  the 
First  Division  of  the  Eleventh  Corps,  preceded  by  a  line  of 
skirmishers,  down  into  the  town  of  Gettysburg,  driving  before 


204  THE   OXE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

them  the  enemy's  skirmishers,  and,  continuing-  through  the  town 
by  Baltimore  and  Carhsle  streets,  was  placed  in  position  on  a 
slight  eminence  on  the  north  of  the  town.  Thus  was  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania  the  first  to  enter  the  town  after 
the  First  and  Eleventh  Corps  had  been  driven  from  there  on  the 
night  of  the  first  day's  fight ;  later  in  the  day,  was  withdrawn  to 
its  former  position  on  Cemetery  Hill,  and  the  next  day,  was  re- 
lieved and  ordered  to  rejoin  its  Brigade. 

Our  loss  in  this,  the  greatest  battle  fought  on  American  soil,  was 
very  heavy,  in  proportion  to  the  number  engaged.  Yet,  again,  the 
good  fortune  that  seemed  to  always  attend  the  Regiment,  again 
favored  us  ;  and  considering  the  important  part  taken  by  the  Regi- 
ment, its  exposed  positions,  on  picket,  charging  the  enemy's  line 
and  supporting  the  artillery,  and  hard  fighting  done,  our  loss  was 
comparatively  light.  Our  reports  showed  a  total  of  thirty  officers 
and  three  hundred  and  thirteen  men  present  for  duty,  from  which 
must  be  deducted  the  non-combatants,  viz :  Musicians,  Ambulance 
Corps  and  Medical  Department  and  Teamsters,  which  would 
leave  us  about  three- hundred  officers  and  men  in  the  fight.  Of 
these  our  loss  was  as  follows : 

Killed : 
Comfy  any  A. 
Corporal  David  G.  Walton. 

Company  B. 
Lieutenant   William   H.    Smith,   Sergeant   Samuel   T.   James,   Cor- 
porals   Samuel   Fitzinger   and    Samuel   Hayburn,   and    Private 
James  Binker. 

Company  G. 
Private  John   O.  Kearney,   Anthony  Starr. 

Company  H. 
Private  Isaac  H.  Rich. 

Company  I. 
Private  Joshua  M.  Plider. 
One  officer  and  ten  men. 

Wounded: 
Adjutant  F.  M.  Pleis. 
Company  A. 
Captain     Sperry,     Lieutenants     Schwartz     and     Casey,     Sergeants 
Strohm    and    Crewe,    Corporals    Dove    and    Steinmetz.    and 
Privates    Brady,    Morris,    Murray.    John    B.     Murphy,    Ray, 
Slavin,  Thompson,  Waldron  and  Webber. 


1863]  GETTYSBURG  205 

Company  B. 
Captain  Lynch,  Sergeants  Marshall  and  Murphy,  Corporals  Mur- 
phy   and    Hallowell,    Privates    Blanc,    Bell,    Canning,    Devlin, 
Duncan,    Hague,    Hanlen,    Kelly,    George    Moore,    McGreal. 
Reynolds  and  J.  Shetzline. 

Company  C. 
Corporal  Ward,  Privates  Clifford,  Newell  and  Rambo. 

Company  D. 
Lieutenants    Irwin    and   Gage,    Privates   Harlan   and   Albert   Hol- 
comb. 

Company  E. 
Privates    Bogan,    Dillsneider,    Kephart,    McPherson    and    Strauss. 

Company  F. 
Corporals  Lucke  and  Hurst,  and  Privates  Focht  and  George  Locke. 

Company  G. 
Captain    Breitenbach,    Sergeant    Heite,    and     Privates    Lott    and 
Powers. 

Company  H. 
Sergeant  Weideman,  and  Private  Spence. 

Company  L 
Captain  Ford. 

Company  K. 
Lieutenant  May,  Private  Eva. 
Ten  officers  and  fifty  men. 

Captured.     Privates   Patrick  Moore,   of  Company   B,   and  Yeakle, 
of  Company  F.     Two  men. 

One  officer  and  ten  men  killed,  ten  officers  and  fifty  men  wound- 
ed, and  two  men  captured ;  making  a  total  loss  of  seventy-two. 
And  in  the  Brigade,  of  a  total  of  seventy-four  officers  and  eleven 
hundred  men  taken  into  action,  the  loss  was  forty-three  officers 
and  five  hundred  and  two  men,  but  forty-seven  of  them  missing. 

The  following  is  the  official  report  of  General  Alexander  S. 
Webb,  commanding  the  Brigade : 

Headquarters  2d  Brigade,  2d  Division,  2d  Corps. 
Jones'  Cross  Roads,  Md.,  July  12th,  1863. 
Captain  : — I   would   respectfully  submit  the   following   report   of 
the  operations  of  this  Brigade  in  the  actions  of  July  2d  and  3d. 

By  command  of  Brigadier  General  John  Gibbon,  commanding 
Division,  this  Brigade  was  put  in  position  at  6.30  a.  m.  on  the  2d 
on  Granite  Ridge,  on  the  right  of  the  Division,  its  right  resting 
on   Cushing's   Battery    (Company  A,   Fourth   United   States  Artil- 


206  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

lery)  and  its  left  on  Battery  B,  First  Rhode  Island  Artillery,  Lieu- 
tenant Brown  commanding.  The  Sixty-Ninth  Regiment  was 
placed  behind  a  fence  a  little  in  advance  of  the  ridge,  the  remaining 
three  regiments  of  the  Brigade  under  cover  of  the  hill  in  rear. 
Brown's  Battery  was,  in  the  course  of  the  day,  moved  to  the  front 
of  the  Sixty-Ninth  Regiment.  It  remained  at  this  point  until  the 
assault,  at  6.30  p.  m.  During  the  day  both  of  the  batteries  on  the 
flanks  of  the  Brigade  engaged  those  of  the  enemy.  The  shelling 
wounded  but  few. 

In  the  morning.  Captain  John  J.  Sperry,  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth,  was  sent  out  with  Companies  A  and  I  of  the  Seventy- 
Second,  and  A  and  B  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth,  to  skirmish 
and  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  He  lost  a  number  of 
men  and  had  several  officers  wounded  in  performing  this  import- 
ant duty. 

Captains  John  J.  Spery  and  James  C.  Lynch  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixth,  and  Captains  Cook  and  Suplee  of  the  Seventy- 
Second,  deserve  honorable  mention  for  their  coolness,  intelligence 
and  zeal  shown  both  on  the  2d  and  3d. 

The  enemy  made  the  assault  of  the  2d  at  about  6.30  p.  m.  Their 
line  of  battle  advanced  beyond  one  gun  of  Brown's  Battery,  receiv- 
ing at  that  point  the  fire  of  the  Sixty-Ninth  Pennsylvania,  and  that 
of  the  Seventy-First  Pennsylvania,  advanced  to  the  support  of  the 
Sixty-Ninth ;  also  that  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  and 
Seventy-Second  Pennsylvania,  which  had  previously  been  moved 
to  the  left  by  command  of  General  Hancock.  Colonel  Baxter, 
Seventy-Second  Pennsylvania,  at  this  time  was  wounded. 

They  halted,  wavered,  and  fell  back,  pursued  by  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixth,  Seventy-Second  and  part  of  the  Seventy-First. 
The  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  and  Seventy-Second  followed  them 
to  the  Emmitsburg  road,  capturing  and  sending  to  the  rear  about 
250  prisoners,  among  whom  were  one  Colonel,  five  Captains  and 
fifteen  Lieutenants.  The  Seventy-First  captured  about  20  prisoners 
at  the  position  previously  held  by  the  Rhode  Island  Battery. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania  were  ordered  back 
from  the  Emmitsburg  road  a  little  before  dark,  and  ordered  to 
report  to  General  Howard,  commanding  nth  Army  Corps,  then 
near  the  cemetery.  For  a  report  of  its  operations  I  refer  to  in- 
closed report  of  the  regimental  commander.  The  Seventy-First 
Pennsylvania  was  detached  to  report  at  the  same  place  a  little 
after  dark.  It  returned  about  12  o'clock  without  orders.  The 
report  of  the  Colonel,  annexed,  is  important. 

OPERATIONS  OF  JULY  3. 

About  I  P.  M.  the  enemy  opened  with  more  than  twenty  bat- 
teries   upon   our   line.     By  2.45    o'clock   had    silenced   the    Rhode 


1863]  GETTYSBURG  207 

Island  Battery  and  all  the  guns  but  one  of  Cushing's  Batter}-,  and 
had  plainly  shown  by  his  concentration  of  fire  on  this  and  the 
Third  Brigade  that  an  important  assault  was  to  be  expected. 

I  had  sent,  at  2  p.  m.,  Captain  Banes,  A.  A.  G.  of  the  Brigade, 
for  two  batteries  to  replace  Cushing's  and  Brown's.  Just  before 
the  assault  Captain  Wheeler's  Battery,  First  New  York  Artillery, 
had  got  in  position  on  the  left  in  the  place  occupied  by  the  Rhode 
Island  Battery,  which  had  retired  with  the  loss  of  all  its  officers 
but  one. 

At  3  o'clock  the  enemy's  line  of  battle  left  the  woods  in  our 
front,  moved  in  perfect  order  across  the  Emmitsburg  road,  formed 
in  the  hollow  in  our  immediate  front  several  lines  of  battle,  under 
a  fire  of  spherical  case  from  Wheeler's  Battery  and  Cushing's  gun, 
and  advanced  for  the  assault. 

The  Seventy-First  Pennsylvania  were  advanced  to  the  wall  on 
the  right  of  the  Sixty-Ninth.  Three  of  Cushing's  guns  were  run 
down  to  the  fence  carrying  with  them  their  canister.  The  Seventy- 
Second  were  held  in  reserve  under  the  crest  of  the  hill.  The  enemy 
advanced  steadily  to  the  fence,  driving  out  a  portion  of  the  Seventy- 
First.  General  Armistead  passed  over  the  fence  with  probably 
over  100  of  his  command,  and  with  several  battle-flags. 

The  Seventy-Second  were  ordered  up  to  hold  the  crest,  and 
advanced  to  within  forty  paces  of  the  enemy's  line. 

Colonel  Smith,  commanding  the  Seventy-First,  threw  two  com- 
panies of  his  command  behind  the  stone-wall  on  the  right  of 
Cushing's  Battery,  fifty  paces  retired  from  the  point  of  attack. 
This  disposition  of  his  troops  was  most  important.  Colonel  Smith 
showed  true  military  intelligence  on  the  field. 

The  Sixty-Ninth  and  most  of  the  Seventy-First,  even  after  the 
enemy  were  in  their  rear,  held  their  position.  The  Seventy- 
Second  fought  steadily  and  persistent>y,  but  the  enemy  would  pro- 
bably have  succeeded  in  piercing  our  lines  had  not  Colonel  Hall 
advanced  with  several  of  his  Regiments  to  my  support. 

Defeated,  routed,  the  enemy  fled  in  disorder.  General  Armi- 
stead was  left  mortally  wounded  within  my  lines,  and  forty-two  of 
the  enemy  who  crossed  the  fence  lay  dead. 

This  Brigade  captured  nearly  1,000  prisoners,  6  battle-flags  (4 
have  been  turned  in),  picked  up  1,400  stands  of  arms,  and  903  sets 
of  accoutrements. 

The  loss  of  the  Brigade  on  the  2d  and  3d  was  43  commissioned 
officers  and  482  enlisted  men.     But  47  enlisted  men  are  missing. 

The  conduct  of  this  Brigade  was  most  satisfactory.  Officers  and 
men  did  their  whole  duty. 

The  Sixty-Ninth  Pennsylvania  lost  all  its  field  officers,  but  held 
its  ground.     The  cover  in  its  front  was  not  well  built,  and  it  lost 


208  THE   OXE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMEXT         [1863 

many  men  lying  on  the  ground,  still,  I  saw  none  retire  from  the 
fence. 

A  portion  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania,  left  be- 
hind the  previous  evening,  under  Captain  Ford,  took  part  in  repell- 
ing the  assault. 

I  lost  gallant  officers  and  men.  A  nominal  list  has  been  sent  in. 
They  need  no  tribute  from  me. 

I  feel  that  the  General  commanding  has  had  abundant  proof  that 
as  a  Brigade,  the  Second  can  be  relied  upon  for  the  performance 
of  any  duty  which  may  be  required  of  it. 

Lieutenant  A.  H.  Gushing,  Fourth  United  States  Artillery,  fell 
mortally  wounded  at  the  fence  by  the  side  of  his  guns.  Gool,  brave, 
competent,  he  fought  for  an  hour  and  a  half  after  he  had  reported 
to  me  that  he  was  wounded  in  both  thighs. 

I  desire  to  call  attention  to  the  brave  conduct  of  Lieutenant 
Joseph  Milne.  Battery  B,  First  Rhode  Island  Artillery,  serving  with 
Lieutenant  Gushing. 

I  recommend  for  promotion  Sergeants  Frederick  Fuger  and 
Edward  M.  Irving  of  that  battery ;  also  Acting  Gimner  Francis 
Abraham.     This  battery  was  nobly  served. 

Gaptain  G.  H.  Banes,  Assistant  Adjutant  General  of  this  Bri- 
gade, assisted  at  all  points  in  strengthening  the  line  and  encourag- 
ing the  men  and  officers  by  his  coolness.  I  recommend  him  for 
honorable  mention. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Gaptain, 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Alexander  S.  Webb, 
Brigadier  General  commanding. 
Gaptain  A.  H.  Embler, 

Acting   Assistant   Adjutant    General. 

Lietitenant-Colonel  Curry,  commandino^  the  One  Htmdred  and 
Sixth,  submitted  the  following  as  his  official  report: 

Headquarters  io6th  Penna.  Regiment. 
Camp  near  Frederick,  Md.,  July  8th,  1863. 
Gapt.  Ghas.  H.  Banes,  Assf.  Adj.  Gen.  ?d  Brigade. 

Sir: — I  beg  leave  respectfully  to  report  the  operations  of  this 
Regiment  during  the  battles  before  Gettysburg  from  July  2d  to  5th, 
inclusive. 

After  arriving  upon  the  ground  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  inst., 
by  order  of  General  Webb,  the  Regiment  was  placed  in  position 
near  the  front  and  centre  of  the  line.  Two  companies.  A  and  B, 
were    deployed    as    skirmishers    in    front    of   the   line ;    they    were 


1863]  GETTYSBURG  209 

warmly  engaged  until  the  action  became  general.  The  coolness 
and  intrepidity  with  which  they  were  handled  kept  the  enemy  at 
bay,  and  reflects  great  credit  upon  the  officers  and  men  of  those 
two  companies.  Our  left  having  attacked  the  enemy,  were,  after 
a  desperate  conflict,  compelled  to  retire.  At  this  time  the  enemy 
opened  upon  our  line  a  furious  cannonade,  wounding  one  of  our 
officers  and  several  men.  Under  cover  of  this  tire  they  advanced 
their  infantry,  driving  back  our  first  line  and  forcing  the  artillery 
in  my  immediate  front  to  withdraw.  By  order  of  General  Webb, 
I  advanced  the  Regiment  by  the  left  flank,  and  formed  in  the  rear 
of  the  second  line.  Shortly  afterwards,  orders  were  received  to 
move  forward.  I  advanced  the  Regiment  to  the  crest  of  the  hill 
and  opened  fire  upon  the  enemy.  After  several  volleys,  perceiving 
that  we  checked  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  and  perceiving  their  line 
to  waver,  I  ordered  bayonets  fixed  and  a  charge  to  be  made,  which 
movement  resulted  in  complete  success,  the  enemy  retiring  to  their 
original  position  in  the  woods.  We  pursued  the  flying  enemy  to 
the  Emmitsburg  road,  when,  perceiving  that  we  were  separated 
from  the  line  on  our  left  by  a  space  of  seventy  yards,  and  having 
no  troops  on  our  right  except  the  remnant  of  the  Eighty-Second 
New  York  Regiment,  I  halted  the  Regiment  and  sent  to  the  rear 
for  support,  having  first  deploj'ed  skirmishers  in  my  front.  The 
officer  whom  I  sent  not  returning,  I  left  the  Regiment  in  charge  of 
Major  Stover,  and  personally  applied  to  General  Webb  for  support, 
when  I  was  ordered  to  withdraw  the  Regiment  to  its  original 
position. 

In  the  charge  we  made,  we  secured  three  guns  which  had  been 
abandoned.  I  sent  them  to  the  rear  by  hand.  We  also  captured 
and  sent  to  the  rear  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners,  among 
whom  were  one  Colonel  (Gibson,  Forty-Eighth  Georgia),  five 
Captains,  and  fifteen  Lieutenants.  Ten  minutes  after  we  returned, 
the  firing  not  having  ceased  upon  our  right,  we  were  ordered  to 
proceed  in  the  direction  of  the  firing  and  report  to  Major  General 
O.  O.  Howard,  commanding  the  Eleventh  Corps,  who  assigned  us 
to  the  command  of  General  Ames,  by  whose  order  we  were  placed 
in  the  front  line,  on  the  right  of  the  Gettysburg  road  near  the 
cemetery.  We  remained  in  that  position  until  the  morning  of  July 
4th,  having  been  exposed  to  a  very  severe  and  concentrated  fire 
from  three  batteries.  On  the  morning  of  the  3d  I  detailed  a  body 
of  sharpshooters  who,  under  cover  of  the  houses  in  the  vicinity, 
kept  up  a  continuous  fire  upon  the  enemy's  sharpshooters,  who 
were  picking  off  the  gunners  of  our  batteries.  I  have  reason  to 
believe  that  the  enemy's  sharpshooters  suffered  considerably  from 
this  body  of  men. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  4th.  a  body  of  skirmishers  preced- 


210  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AXD  SIXTH  REG  I M  EST         [18G3 

iiig  us.  General  Ames,  commanding  the  First  Division,  Eleventh 
Corps,  marched  the  Regiment  through  the  town  of  Gettysburg, 
and  placed  us  in  position  on  a  .slight  eminence  on  the  north  of  the 
town.  Afterwards  I  was  ordered  to  conduct  the  Regiment  to  our 
original  position  near  the  cemetery,  where  we  remained  until  the 
morning  of  the  Sth,  when  we  were  relieved  by  virtue  of  the  follow- 
ing orders : 

[Copy.]  Headou.\rters  iith  Corps.  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Gettysburg,  Pa..  July  ^th.  1863. 
Cominanding  OMccr  io6th  Peuiia.  Regiment. 

By  direction  of  the  commanding  General  you  are  relieved  from 
duty  with  this  Corps,  and  will  rejoin  your  Corps.  The  General 
commanding  directs  me  to  express  his  thanks  for  your  kind  sup- 
port. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

T.    A.    MUYSENBERG, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

I  will  add  that  the  two  skirmishing  companies  detailed  on  the 
morning  of  the  2d  did  not  accompany  the  Regiment  to  the  right, 
but  remanied  on  the  centre,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  engage- 
ment on  the  afternoon  of  the  3d.  I  have  already  furnished  you 
with  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded.  I  take  great  pleasure  in 
saying  that  every  officer  and  man  performed  his  entire  duty,  and 
evinced  a  determination  which  must  ever  be  crowned  with  success. 

Early  in  the  engagement  Adjutant  F.  M.  Pleis  was  severely 
wounded,  and  Lieutenant  John  A.  Steel  was  ordered  to  act  as 
Adjutant.  Adjutant  Pleis,  while  in  the  field,  by  his  coolness  and 
courage,  contributed  greatly  to  the  success  of  our  efforts.  His 
successor,  Lieutenant  Steel,  also,  by  his  daring  disregard  of  danger, 
and  promptness  of  action,  rendered  much  valuable  service  on  the 
field,  and  is  entitled  to  more  than  passing  notice. 

I  make  special  mention  of  Major  John  H.  Stover,  who  by  his 
coolness  and  daring,  rendered  me  much  valuable  assistance. 

[  also  bear  willing  testimony  to  the  good  conduct  of  Captains  John 
J  Sperry,  Robert  H.  Ford,  James  C.  Lynch,  and  Lieutenant 
Charles  S.  Schwartz.  In  fact,  the  same  may  be  said  of  every  line 
officer  in  my  command. 

Wm.  L.  Curkv, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  commanding. 

Colonel  Curry,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  speaking  of  the  charge 
of  the  Regiment  on  the  2d,  said : 

We  opened  fire,  and  charged  so  determinedly,  along  with  others, 
that  we  drove  the  enemy  to  their  original  lines,  and  would  have 


1863]  GETTYSBURG  211 

spiked  a  six  gun  battery,  had  we  not  been  ordered  back.  The 
carnage  was  terrible,  the  ground  being  covered  with  the  dead  and 
wounded.  It  was  in  this  charge  that  Adjutant  Pleis  fell,  being 
struck  in  the  thigh  by  a  piece  of  shell.  I  have  fully  made  up  for 
my  capture,  in  June.  1862,  as  this  Regiment  took  a  Colonel,  two 
Majors,  a  number  of  Captains  and  Lieutenants,  and,  at  least,  two 
hundred  privates,  prisoners,  we  had  more  swords  than  we  could 
use  I  have  one  in  place  of  the  one  taken  from  me  at  Richmond, 
and  also  a  silver-mounted  pistol. 

We  regret  that  there  should  be  any  conflict  between  the  official 
reports  of  Colonel  Curry,  commanding  the  Regiment,  and  Gen- 
eral Webb,  commanding  the  Brigade,  as  follows :  Webb  states, 
"Their  line  of  battle  advanced  beyond  one  gun  of  Brown's  Bat- 
tery". And  Curry  says :  "In  the  charge  we  made,  we  secured 
three  guns  which  had  been  abandoned ;  I  sent  them  to  the  rear 
by  hand".  And  again  Webb  says :  "The  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
and  Seventy-Second  followed  them  to  the  Emmitsburg  road,  cap- 
turing, and  sending  to  the  rear,  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
prisoners."  And  Curry  says:  "We  pursued  the  flying  enemy  to 
the  Emmitsburg  road  where  perceiving  we  were  separated  from 
our  line  on  our  left,  and  having  no  troops  on  our  right,  except  a 
remnant  of  the  Eighty-Second  New  York:"  *  *  *  JVe  also  cap- 
tured and  sent  to  the  rear  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners." 
*  *  *  "We  have  no  desire  to  take  any  of  the  glory  or  honors  from 
the  Seventy-Second,  but  we  will  not  hesitate  to  give  to  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  what  belongs  to  them.  They  and  they  alone 
pursued  the  enemy  to  the  Emmitsburg  road,  at  that  point,  and  they, 
alone,  captured  those  prisoners,  which  were  received  by  Captain 
Ford,  with  his  Company  I,  at  the  Codori  House,  including  Col- 
onel Gibson,  five  Captains  and  fifteen  Lieutenants.  And  Colonel 
Gibson  in  his  letter  to  Captain  Ford,  acknowledges  the  at- 
tention he  there  received  from  Captain  Ford.  We  can  only  ac- 
count for  this  difference  in  General  Webb's  report,  from  the  fact 
that  he  had  only  been  in  command  of  the  Brigade  a  few  days ; 
was  not  well  acquainted  with  his  regiments ;  or,  that  his  Assis- 
tant Adjutant  General  had  directed  that  regiment  to  advance 
when  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  did ;  and  naturally  supposed 
they  continued  with  them  ;  and  in  making  up  his  report,  included 
them  as  part  of  the  force  that  reached  the  Emmitsburg  road,  and 


212  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

therefore,  assisting  in  the  capture  of  those  prisoners.  These  are 
the  only  ways  we  can  now  see  that  this  error  could  then  occur. 
In  regard  to  the  guns,  retaken,  if  Colonel  Curry  directed  his  men 
to  take  three  guns  to  the  rear,  it  is  pretty  positive  there  must  have 
been  three,  and  Captain  Lynch  states  that  he  was  returning  with 
his  Company  from  the  skirmish-line,  after  ammunition ;  and  pass- 
ed the  Regiment  at  that  point ;  and  there  was  more  than  one  gun. 
We  would  further  add,  that  a  portion  of  the  Regiment  advanc- 
ed beyond  the  Emmitsburg  road,  and  took  possession  of  a  six 
gun  battery,  there  abandoned  by  the  enemy  in  their  retreat ;  but 
before  they  had  time  to  attempt  their  removal,  or  even  spike  the 
guns,  they  were  ordered  to  withdraw  and  join  the  Brigade. 
These  are  the  guns  Colonel  Curry  speaks  of  in  his  letter. 


Sergfant  RuDiiT.i'H  A-  W.  Oestmann. 
Aug  28,  1861.  Sept.  10,  18 

Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  1864. 
Mustered  out  with  Company,  Sept.  10,  1864, 


COMPANY  E. 


Musician  Gustavus  Josephs. 
Aug.  28,  1861.  Sept.  10.  18 

Mustered  out  with  Company,  Sept.  10.  1864, 


18631  BACK  TO  IIRGINIA  213 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

BACK    TO    VIRGINIA. 

EARLY  on  the  morning  of  July  7th,  about  4  o'clock,  we  were 
awakened  and  told  to  get  ready  to  move  at  once,  and  be- 
fore we  had  time  to  get  anything  to  eat,  we  started,  and 
soon  bade  farewell  to  our  own  State,  Pennsylvania,  and  crossed 
the  line  again  into  Maryland.  At  10  o'clock  we  reached  Taney- 
town,  tired  and  hungry,  and  being  without  rations,  could  not 
appease  our  hunger ;  but  in  the  afternoon,  we  received  three  days' 
rations,  and  by  night,  having  consumed  about  one-half  of  them, 
we  went  to  bed  satisfied. 

We  were  up  before  daylight  on  the  8th,  and  soon  on  the  march, 
in  a  heavy  rain ;  passed  through  Taneytown,  turning  to  the  right, 
passed  through  Bruceville  and  Pine  Creek,  and  arrived  at  Woods- 
boro.  Here  a  halt  was  made,  and  General  Webb  addressed  the 
men,  and  informed  them  of  the  successes  of  General  Grant  in 
the  Southwest,  and  the  capture  of  Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  on  the 
4th.  This  was  received  with  cheers,  and  we  started  on  in  little 
better  spirits,  though  still  tramping  through  mud  and  rain.  We 
left  the  road  on  account  of  its  bad  condition,  and  marched  through 
the  fields,  which  soon  became  as  bad,  as  the  rain  came  down  in 
perfect  torrents ;  during  the  afternoon  it  ceased  and  soon  cleared 
ofif.  Passed  through  Walkersville,  and  about  4  o'clock  went  into 
camp  near  the  Monocacy  Creek,  about  five  miles  from  Frederick. 
Many  of  the  men  availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  of  a  good 
bath  in  the  IMonocacy,  and  a  wash  and  clean  up,  which  after  that 
muddy  march  of  about  twenty  miles  was  necessary  as  well  as  re- 
freshing. Left  camp  next  morning  about  6  o'clock,  crossed  the 
Monocacy,  and  about  8  o'clock,  passed  through  Frederick,  with 
colors  flying  and  bands  playing.  We  arrived  at  Jefferson  about 
noon,  rested  for  about  an  hour,  then  continued  and  arrived  at 
Burkittsville  about  5  o'clock,  and  camped.  But  in  an  hour  were 
ordered  forward  again,  and  about  dark,  crossed  over  the  South 


214  THE   OXE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REG  I M  EXT         [1863 

Mountain  at  Turner's  Gap,  and  soon  after  camped  for  the  night 
near   Rohrersville,   having  marched   about   twenty-two   miles. 

Leaving  camp  at  lo  o'clock,  on  the  loth,  passed  through  Ro- 
hrersville and  Locust  Grove,  still  marching  in  the  fields,  then 
through  Keedysville.  crossed  the  Antietam  Creek  on  the  stone 
bridge,  and  rested  a  while  near  the  old  battlefield  ;  and  about  4 
o'clock,  moved  on  and  camped  on  the  Hagerstown  road,  near 
Tilghman,  having  marched  about  twelve  miles. 

On  the  11th,  passed  through  Tilghman,  and  had  only  gone 
about  a  mile  further  towards  Williamsport,  when  we  struck  the 
rear  guard  of  the  enemy  and  skirmishing  began.  The  Seventy- 
Second  Regiment  was  immediately  sent  to  the  support  of  our 
skirmishers,  and  we  were  formed  in  line  of  battle  on  the  right  of 
the  road.  The  firing  ceased,  but  we  remained  in  that  position 
until  about  midnight,  when  we  were  moved,  in  quick  time,  about 
two  miles  and  reformed  our  line  in  the  road.  Here  we  remained 
until  after  daylight,  when  we  were  moved  back  about  a  mile,  near 
Jones'  cross  roads,  and  formed  in  the  woods  on  the  right  of  the 
road  facing  it.  About  2  o'clock  it  commenced  to  rain  and 
rained  in  torrents,  the  roads  became  creeks,  and  the  fields  were  one 
vast  mud-puddle  ;  yet  three  different  times  that  afternoon  w^ere  our 
positions  changed.  We  were  finally  formed  on  the  left  of  the 
Third  Division,  with  the  First  Division  on  our  left.  There  was 
continual  skirmishing  all  day  and  evening,  earthworks  were 
thrown  up  on  the  13th,  and  towards  evening  we  were  moved 
forward  and  occupied  them ;  the  next  day  were  again  advanced, 
marching  for  about  three  hours  through  the  muddy  fields  to  near 
Falling  Waters.  In  the  rations  issued  that  afternoon,  whiskey 
was  included,  which  was  of  great  value  to  the  men  in  their  wet 
and  exhausted  condition. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  15th  we  left  camp,  turning  back 
through  the  fields,  making  for  Harper's  Ferry,  passing  through 
Downsville  and  Bakersville,  and  in  the  afternoon  through  Sharps- 
burg,  then  struck  the  canal  and  continuing  along  the  tow-path 
for  about  seven  miles  halted  for  the  night  about  5  o'clock,  having 
marched  about  seventeen  miles.  Starting  about  7  o'clock  the 
next  morning,  marching  about  four  miles,  we  came  in  sight  of 
Harper's  Ferry,  but  passed  on  and  through  Sandy  Hook,  and  went 


1863]  BJCK   TO  I'lRGINIA  215 

into  camp  about  a  mile  beyond.  In  the  afternoon  we  were  sup- 
plied with  a  very  limited  amount  of  clothing  and  the  usual  rations. 
We  remained  in  camp  all  day  the  17th  ;  raining  nearly  all  the  time. 

About  2  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  i8th,  the  assembly 
sounded  and  orders  were  promulgated  to  move  at  once,  but  did 
not  leave  camp  until  6  o'clock ;  passing  through  Sandy  Hook  and 
crossed  the  Potomac  on  a  pontoon  bridge,  thence  over  the  Shen- 
andoah on  a  suspension  bridge  and  around  Loudon  Heights  to 
the  valley,  and  went  into  camp  at  Hillsboro  about  2  o'clock.  On 
the  19th,  pressed  forward  about  five  miles.  On  the  20th  our  Bri- 
gade was  detailed  as  wagon  guard  or  escort  to  the  wagon  train 
and  marched  about  fifteen  miles,  passing  through  Woodgrove 
and  Bloomfield.  Remained  in  camp  the  21st.  On  the  22d, 
moved  about  six  miles,  passing  to  the  right  of  Upperville  and 
camping  near  Paris:  protecting  Ashby's  Gap  until  the  23d,  when, 
without  time  to  get  breakfast,  we  pushed  on  to  Alarkham  Station 
on  Manassas  Railroad,  where  we  halted  for  an  hour,  then  pushed 
on  to  Manassas  Gap  to  the  support  of  the  Third  Corps,  which  was 
engaged  with  the  enemy ;  we  having  marched  about  fifteen  miles. 
On  the  24th,  were  withdrawn  from  the  Gap  about  six  miles  to 
Markham  Station.  On  the  25th,  marched  about  twelve  miles 
and  camped  near  White  Plains.  Leaving  camp  about  5  o'clock 
on  the  26th,  passed  through  White  Plains  and  New  Baltimore 
and  camped  within  three  miles  of  Warrenton  Junction,  having 
marched  about  twenty  miles ;  here  we  remained  until  the  after- 
noon of  the  30th. 

On  the  27th,  Major  Stover,  with  a  detachment  of  the  Regiment, 
went  home  on  recruiting  service.  On  the  30th,  left  camp  about 
5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  marched  until  about  11  o'clock  at 
night,  going  about  ten  miles  to  Elk  Run.  On  the  31st,  moved 
about  six  miles  further.  We  shifted  camp  on  August  4th,  and 
remained  quiet  during  the  entire  month  of  August ;  camped  near 
Morrisville,  about  six  miles  from  Kelly's  Ford  on  the  Rappa- 
hannock ;  we  had  then  marched  about  four  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  since  leaving  Falmouth  on  June  15th.  We  were  then  doing 
picket  duty,  being  relieved  every  twenty-four  hours,  and  on  the 
6th,  Captain  Farr,  returning  from  picket,  brought  in  three  pris- 
oners captured     that  night ;  they  were  taken  to  Lieutenant-Col- 


21G 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 


onel  furry,  who  sent  them  to  General  Webb  at  Brigade  head- 
quarters. On  the  13th,  Captain  Breitenbach,  absent  on  account  of 
wounds  received  at  Gettysburg,  returned  and  reported  for  duty. 
On  the  17th,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Curry  assumed  command  of  the 
Brigade ;  General  Webb  going  to  Division  headquarters,  leaving 
Captain  Breitenbach  in  command  of  the  Regiment.  The  pay- 
master paid  us  a  visit  on  the  i8th,  and  we  were  paid  off  on  the 
19th. 

On  the  2 1  St,  the  whole  division  was  drawn  up  in  line  to  witness 
the  execution  of  a  member  of  the  Seventy-First  Regiment,  who 
was  sentenced  to  be  shot  for  desertion ;  and  on  the  28th,  two 
others,  belonging  to  other  regiments  of  the  division,  were  also 
shot  for  the  same  oft'ence.  Yet  some  might  well  be  justified  in 
being  "absent  without  leave"  if  not  while  in  action,  as  for  over 
seventy  days  had  we  been  marching  day  after  day,  with  hardly 
any  rest,  on  short  rations,  scarcely  any  clothes  ;  some  in  our  Bri- 
gade actually  marching  in  their  undershirt  and  drawers,  many 
barefoot  or  with  only  an  apology  for  a  shoe ;  tramping,  as  has 
been  said,  over  four  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  mud  and  rain,  heat 
and  dust,  night  as  well  as  day ;  and  here  w^e  were,  back  again 
within  a  short  distance  from  where  we  started  in  June.  We  had 
fought  and  won  the  greatest  battle  that  was  fought  throughout  the 
whole  war,  in  fact  the  greatest  battle  ever  fought  on  this  continent, 
severely  punished  the  enemy  and  gained  a  glorious  victory,  but 
at  a  terrible  sacrifice.  They  resisted  and  prevented  our  advance 
as  they  did  when  here  last  and  we  are  no  nearer  their  capital  than 
before  we  started,  but  with  the  great  victory  we  had  won  and  the 
triumph  of  General  Grant  at  Vicksburg,  we  felt  that  the  backbone 
of  the  Rebellion  was  broken,  but  leaving  much  yet  to  be  done. 

On  August  31st,  we  again  began  our  march,  leaving  camp  be- 
fore daylight,  passed  Grove  Church,  and  arrived  at  Hartwood 
Church  about  11  o'clock,  and  shortly  after  pushed  on  to  Banks' 
Ford,  on  the  Rappahannock  River,  where  we  arrived  about  4 
o'clock,  having  marched  about  nineteen  miles.  Here  we  re- 
mained until  September  3d,  when  we  returned  to  our  old  camp, 
arriving  there  about  midnight.  Colonel  Curry  returned  on  the 
5th  and  assumed  command  of  the  Regiment. 

On  September  12th  we  left  camp  about  11  o'clock,  and.  march- 


1863]  BACK  TO  VIRGINIA  217 

ing  very  fast,  soon  reached  Bealton  Station,  and  arrived  at  Rap- 
pahannock Station  about  4  o'clock.  On  that  day  Colonel  Curry 
again  left  us,  this  time  to  take  command  of  the  First  Brigade,  and 
Captain  Breitenbach  was  again  in  command  of  the  Regiment. 
This  was  another  very  warm  day,  and  many  of  the  men  were 
sunstruck  or  overcome  with  the  heat.  In  the  afternoon  a  very 
heavy  thunderstorm  came  up,  but  we  continued  our  march  in  the 
drenching  rain  and  had  to  sleep  all  night  in  it,  but  the  next  morn- 
ing brought  out  the  sun  to  dry  us.  Leaving  camp  about  6  o'clock, 
going  a  short  distance  down  the  river,  crossed  on  a  pontoon 
bridge,  and  arrived  at  Brandy  Station  before  noon.  Our  Cavalry 
under  Pleasanton,  having  effected  the  crossing,  became  engaged 
with  the  enemy,  and  fought  the  Battle  of  Brandy  Station,  and 
after  a  hotly  contested  fight,  gradually  drove  them  back  towards 
the  Rapidan.  We  waited  a  long  time  while  they  were  forcing 
their  way,  distinctly  hearing  their  firing.  While  so  waiting  some 
of  the  men  went  foraging,  and,  in  a  house  near  by,  captured  a 
box  of  tobacco,  a  five-gallon  keg  of  whiskey,  and  a  lot  of  small 
arms.  They  also  took  the  man  under  guard  to  headquarters 
against  the  protests  and  tears  of  wife  and  children,  and  thus,  for 
a  long  while,  put  an  end  to  his  guerrilla  warfare.  In  the  after- 
noon we  pushed  on,  closely  following  the  cavalry  over  their  con- 
tested ground ;  there  had  been  hard  fighting  in  some  places,  as 
was  shown  by  marks  on  the  trees  and  the  number  of  dead  horses ; 
arrived  at  Culpepper  at  5  o'clock  and  camped.  The  Cavalry  was 
still  in  charge  of  the  town,  and,  as  a  result  of  their  heavy  skirmish, 
had  a  large  number  of  prisoners  confined  in  a  large  church ;  they 
also  captured  several  pieces  of  artillery.  Our  Brigade  was  sent 
forward  to  relieve  the  cavalry  and  occupy  the  town ;  the  rest  of 
the  corps  was  then  stretched  along  Virginia  Midland  Railroad 
form  Brandy  Station  to  Culpepper.  Early  next  morning,  Septem- 
ber 14th,  we  pushed  on  to  Raccoon  Ford,  on  the  Rapidan  river, 
relieving  the  Cavalry  pickets  of  Kilpatrick's  Division.  This  was 
by  no  means  a  very  pleasant  duty,  the  rebel  pickets  from  their 
rifle  pits  plainly  seen  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  kept  up  an 
incessant  firing,  shooting  as  soon  as  any  of  our  pickets  showed 
themselves,  so  that  they  had  to  be  relieved  at  dark,  and  keep  all 
day  within  the  small  rifle  pits,  hastily  constructed  for  their  protec- 


218  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SI  NTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

tion.  In  a  day  or  two  after  our  arrival,  the  firino-  stopped  by 
mutual  consent,  for  as  soon  as  the  Rebs  found  that  the  cavalry 
had  been  relieved  by  infantry  they  agreed  to  cease  unnecessary 
firing.  It  was  only  caused  by  the  cavalry,  who  had  had  so  little 
chance  to  try  their  new  seven-shooting  carbines  at  the  enemy, 
that  they  practised  by  firing  at  every  one  they  saw  while  on  picket, 
so  near  to  the  enemy's  line ;  this  compelled  the  Rebs  to  do  the 
same,  hence  it  was  dangerous  work  to  be  on  picket  under  those 
circumstances,  but  things  changed  when  those  accustomed  to  such 
picket  duty  came  opposite  each  other,  and  soon  were  on  friendly 
terms,  and  indulged  in  the  usual  exchanges,  cofifee  for  tobacco, 
and  daily  papers.  One  day,  after  we  had  been  paid  ofif,  on  the 
25th,  an  invitation  was  extended  to  the  Rebs  to  come  over  and 
take  dinner  with  us  and  one  accepted  our  invitation  and  came 
over.  He  was  stufifed  with  fresh  meat,  potatoes,  bread  and  butter, 
cheese  and  coffee;  it  did  us  good  to  see  "Johnny"  enjoying  it, 
and  he  expressed  great  surprise,  and  was  very  anxious  to  know 
if  we  always  lived  so  well,  and  we,  taking  advantage  of  his  in- 
nocence, carelessly  told  him  we  had  only  just  brought  these  few 
things  out  on  picket,  never  once  admitting  that  they  were  almost 
as  much  of  a  luxury  to  us  as  to  him,  and  only  obtained  by  us  on 
account  of  the  recent  visit  of  the  paymaster.  When  finished  he 
returned  in  safety  to  their  lines,  to  no  doubt  make  his  comrades 
envious  of  his  good  fortune. 

While  on  duty  there,  a  joke  was  played  on  one  of  our  officers 
that  might  well  be  included  here.  On  September  17th  and  i8th, 
it  rained  nearly  all  the  time.  The  wagons  had  not  been  allowed 
to  come  so  near  the  front,  so  that  the  officers,  who  had  not  carried 
their  "house  and  furniture"  with  them,  as  the  men  had  done, 
were  in  no  very  comfortable  condition,  those  cool  nights  of  early 
fall,  and  the  cold  rainstorm  made  even  the  days  ver}-  uncomfort- 
able. Three  officers,  a  Captain,  and  First  Lieutenant,  of  one 
company,  and  a  Second  Lieutenant  of  another,  who  were  almost 
inseparable  during  their  stay  with  the  Regiment,  were  tramping 
u])  and  down  a  narrow  path  in  the  woods,  to  kee])  up  the  animal 
warmth,  bemoaning  the  storm  and  their  condition.  We  will  only 
name  them  by  the  nicknames  they  were  familiarly  known  by ; 
"Muncy"    was  the    Captain :    "Turkey"    and    "Sunflower"     the 


1863]  BACK  TO  J'IRGINIA  219 

Lieutenants.  The  latter  were  frequently  alluding  to  the  equinoc- 
tial, and  remarking-,  "if  it  was  raining  now,  what  would  it  do 
when  the  sun  crossed  the  line?"  "Muncy",  like  a  great  many 
others,  had  heard  of  the  equinoctial,  but  knew  not  what  it  meant, 
and  inquired ;  when  explained  to  him,  in  their  oivn  ivay,  was 
anxious  to  take  in  the  sight  of  "seeing  the  sun  cross  the  line". 
His  companions,  ever  ready  to  enjoy  a  joke,  told  him  that  on 
the  2 1  St,  if  a  clear  day,  he  could  gratify  his  desire. 

In  the  meantime,  the  wagons  had  been  allowed  to  come  up,  and 
along  with  them,  the  sutler  of  the  Seventy-First  Pennsylvania, 
bringing  a  supply  of  the  things  the  men  needed,  and  plenty  of 
whiskey  for  the  officers  ;  not  that  they  needed  it  any  more  than 
the  men,  but  because  they  were  officers  they  could  get  it.  And 
our  trio  were  able  to  get  what  they  needed.  That  settled  the 
business  for  them  to  carry  out  the  joke  on  their  comrade;  and, 
as  the  morning  of  the  2ist  ushered  in  a  beautiful,  bright  and  clear 
day.  they  told  "INIuncy"  they  would  accompany  him  to  see  the 
sight ;  and  equipped  with  their  canteens  well  filled,  they  started 
through  the  woods  to  select  a  spot  with  a  clearing,  through  which 
they  could  have  a  good  view ;  and  one,  to  see  the  greatest  sight 
of  his  life.  Many  places  were  passed  before  one  that  suited 
them  in  every  particular  could  be  found ;  at  last,  after  passing 
the  picket  reserve,  they  came  upon  a  spot,  free  from  underbrush, 
to  which  no  objection  could  be  offered,  or  fear  of  any  intrusion. 
They  sat  down,  sampled  their  canteens ;  "Muncy"  was  rather  im- 
patient, and  inquired,  "How  are  we  going  to  see  it?"  "Not  with 
your  ears",  shouted  "Sunflower"  :  this  provoked  a  good  laugh, 
and  gave  the  opportunity  for  another  drink.  He  was  assured  that 
high  noon  was  the  proper  time ;  but,  ere  that  time,  too  frequent 
sampling  of  their  canteens  made  them  oblivious  of  all  earthly 
things,  or  of  each  other ;  and  they  were  only  aroused  from  their 
slumbers  about  2  o'clock,  by  a  servant  that  had  been  sent  after 
them  with  their  dinners,  and  the  information  that  an  ispection 
was  ordered  for  3  o'clock.  This  rather  disturbed  their  equilib- 
rium ;  all  knowing  full  well  they  were  in  no  condition  to  appear 
in  camp.  However,  after  consultation,  it  was  found  that 
"Turkey"  had  secured  a  pass  for  the  day  from  Colonel  Curry, 
before  leaving  camp ;  so,  it  was  decided,  that  the  other  two  were 


220  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT         [18G3 

to  return  to  camp,  and  leave  "Turkey"  in  charge  of  the  "instru- 
ments'', to  await  their  return.  Towards  evening,  the  woods  were 
resonant  with  the  calls  of  "J^^i^^y '''  "Ji™"iy!"  who,  on  being  left 
alone  to  overcome  his  loneliness,  made  frequent  use  of  the  "instru- 
ments",  and  again  slumbered;  and  on  awakening,  found  that 
during  his  sleep,  he  had  unconsciously  rolled  from  place  to  place 
to  keep  out  of  the  sun  as  it  changed,  until  he  was  far  away  from 
where  his  companions  had  left  him ;  the  trio  were  soon  united  and 
again  enjoying  themselves,  and  in  a  short  while  started  for  camp, 
"Muncy",  in  no  very  pleasant  frame  of  mind  at  having  missed  the 
great  sight  of  his  life,  and  humiliated  to  think  it  was  all  on  account 
of  that  canteen. 

After  supper  "IMuncy"  was  missing,  and  "Turkey"  and  "Sun- 
flower" started  out  to  hunt  him  up.  Well  into  the  night  they 
found  him  lying  asleep  in  a  large  field  at  the  foot  of  an  old  stump 
of  a  tree,  with  his  arms  around  the  stump  tugging  away  and 
crying,  "More  kiver".  So  disappointed  that  he  had  gone  off  by 
himself,  had  lain  himself  down  and  gone  to  sleep;  the  temperature 
of  the  night  being  such  as  to  make  him  mindful  that  he  needed 
his  blanket,  and  he  was  trying  to  convert  that  stump  into  one ;  he 
was  kindly  taken  in  charge  by  "Sunflower",  who  took  him  to 
camp  and  put  him  to  bed.  So  ended  that  private  transit  expedi- 
tion. 

On  September  21st,  Captain  Ford,  wounded  at  Gettysburg, 
returned  and  assumed  command  of  his  Company.  On  October 
5th  we  were  relieved  by  the  First  Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps 
and  Cavalry ;  the  next  morning  marched  back  to  Culpepper  and 
went  into  camp  about  two  and  one-half  miles  from  town,  where 
we  remained  until  the  loth,  when  we  left  in  the  afternoon  and 
marched  about  six  miles.  At  3  o'clock  the  next  morning,  the 
nth,  we  left  camp  and  crossed  the  river  at  Rappahannock  Sta- 
tion ;  our  Division  on  the  railroad  bridge  and  the  Third  Division 
on  the  pontoon  bridge  below.  We  arrived  at  Bealton  about 
dark,  having  marched  about  eighteen  miles.  Lee,  having 
determined  on  another  northward  movement,  had  turned  our 
right  flank,  hence  our  backward  march  to  the  north  side  of  the 
Rappahannock. 

On  the  morning  of  the  12th,  the  Division  was  called  upon  to 


1863]  BACK  TO  VIRGINIA  221 

witness  the  disgrace  and  punishment  of  another  man  for  deser- 
tion;  this  time  he  was  "drummed  out  of  camp",  that  is  to  have 
one-half  of  his  head  and  beard  shaved  off,  branded  with  the  letter 
D,  then  placed  between  the  guards  and  marched  through  all  the 
camps  with  a  drum  corps  behind  him  playing  the  Rogue's  March. 

Upon  our  falling  back,  Lee  immediately  occupied  the  ground 
and  took  possession  of  Culpepper.  Meade,  not  knowing  Lee's  in- 
tentions, concluded  to  recross  the  river  and  give  him  battle.  So 
about  noon  on  the  12th,  we  started  back,  recrossed  the  Rappa- 
hannock, and  forming  in  line  of  battle  advanced  towards  Brandy 
Station. 

This  was  one  of  the  rare  opportunities  offered  during  our  war 
for  the  movement  of  troops  in  battle,  in  level  open  country,  afford- 
ing a  fine  view  of  their  magnificent  array  and  manoeuvring,  that 
could  not  fail  to  inspire  all  who  witnessed  it.  Advancing  direct 
from  the  river,  on  the  right,  is  a  large  hill,  on  which  were  con- 
structed works  for  artillery,  that  could  command  the  surrounding 
country  for  a  long  distance ;  on  the  left  runs  the  railroad  at  right 
angle  from  the  river ;  between,  is  flat,  open  space,  about  a  mile 
wide,  on  which  our  Corps,  the  Second,  was  formed  in  nine  lines, 
a  brigade  in  each  line,  with  the  regiments  formed  in  close  columns 
by  division,  our  center  division,  slowly  advancing  parallel  with  the 
railroad ;  between  each  line  were  the  Brigade  Commanders  and 
their  staffs  and  colors,  with  their  aides  riding  rapidly  from  point 
to  point,  as  it  became  necessary  to  carry  instructions  to  the  Regi- 
mental Commanders.  Around  each  regiment  were  its  motmted 
officers ;  in  the  rear  of  each  were  the  surgeons  and  their  helpers ; 
following  in  the  rear  of  all,  was  the  ambulance  corps,  with  their 
ambulances  and  stretchers,  ready  to  do  their  humane  work  of 
caring  for  the  wounded.  Then  looking  to  the  left  beyond  the 
railroad,  on  a  road  running  parallel  with  it,  could  be  seen  the 
Artillery  keeping  up  wath  the  Infantry,  all  plainly  seen  at  one 
time.  Presently  in  front  almost  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see,  where 
the  ground  by  gradual  ascent  seemed  to  be  meeting  the  sky, 
a  flash  was  seen,  then  smoke ;  soon  the  report  is  heard  and  a  shell 
came  crashing  towards  us,  bursting  over  our  heads,  quickly  fol- 
lowed by  many  others ;  yet  the  lines  slowly  advanced,  making  no 
reply.     The  line  of  skirmishers  slightly  in  advance  of  the  first 


222  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         |1863 

line  hurried  rapidly  forward,  closely  followed  by  the  first  line,  and 
when  very  near  the  enemy's  guns,  the  firing  ceased,  the  battery 
and  its  support  disappeared.  Our  lines  halt,  as  the  enemy  had 
left,  and  the  battle  was  over;  thus  was  one  of  the  finest  oppor- 
tunities for  a  fair  open  field  fight  lost.  But  that  sight  can  never 
be  forgotten  by  those  who  saw  and  noted  it.  Over  15,000  men — 
veterans — tried  by  the  fire  of  many  battles,  and  by  the  march  of 
many  campaigns,  there  formed  in  line  of  battle,  advancing  amid 
shot  and  shell  as  quietly  and  orderly  as  if  on  parade  or  drill,  and 
the  whole  field  seen  at  a  glance.  It  was  a  magnificent  sight,  that 
advance  of  the  Second  Corps  on  Brandy  Station,  on  the  afternoon 
of  October  12,  1863,  the  First  Division  on  the  advance,  followed 
by  the  Third,  and  the  Second  bringing  up  the  rear,  with  the  Phil- 
adelphia Brigade  the  advance  of  the  Division. 

We  prepared  to  make  ourselves  comfortable  for  the  night 
where  we  lay,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Brandy  Station,  but 
about  1 1  o'clock  we  were  awakened  and  soon  started  backwards, 
recrossed  the  Rappahannock,  passed  Bealton,  and  arrived  at 
Fayetteville,  near  Sulphur  Springs,  about  sunrise,  where  we 
halted  for  breakfast.  It  had  now  been  ascertained  that  Lee  was 
executing  another  movement  northward,  and  with  his  whole 
army  was  then  north  of  the  Rappahannock,  making  for  Washing- 
ton, while  Meade  was  south  of  the  river  facing  towards  Rich- 
mond. Prompt  action  was  necessary  to  extricate  himself  from 
this  position,  hence  our  midnight  march  and  rapid  movements. 
About  II  o'clock  we  left  Fayetteville  and  arrived  at  camp  near 
Warrenton  Junction,  having  marched  about  twenty-three  miles. 

Leaving  camp  about  5  o'clock  the  next  morning,  October  14th, 
the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment  was  deployed  as  skirmish- 
ers and  advanced  to  Catlett's  Station,  where  we  halted  and,  while 
the  Division  was  forming  in  line  of  battle.  General  ?^Ieade,  who 
was  walking  up  and  down  close  by,  consulting  his  map,  and  con- 
versing with  his  officers,  came  and  inquired  what  Brigade  ours 
was,  and  when  told  that  it  was  the  "Philadelphia  Brigade",  said, 
'"That  is  just  the  one  I  want",  and  immediately  gave  orders  to 
Colonel  Baxter,  then  commanding  the  Brigade,  as  General  Webb 
was  in  command  of  the  Division,  to  escort  the  ammunition  train 
to  Centreville.     We  at  once  moved  on,  the  One   Hundred  and 


1863]  BACK   TO  VIRGINIA  223 

Sixth  and  Seventy-Second  deployed  as  flankers.  We  arrived 
at  Bristoe  Station  about  noon,  where  we  halted  for  dinner,  the 
train  still  pushing  on.  Just  as  we  were  leaving  Bristoe  Station 
the  Rebs  opened  on  us  with  a  light  battery ;  our  battery  was  soon 
in  position  replying  to  them,  and  leaving  them  to  fight  it  out,  we 
pressed  on  after  the  train,  crossed  Bull  Run  about  4  o'clock  and 
arrived  at  the  fortifications  around  Centreville  about  dark.  We 
were  thus  absent  from  the  fight  at  Bristoe  Station  that  day,  in 
which  our  Corps  was  hotly  engaged,  and  as  the  brunt  of  that 
fight  was  borne  by  our  Division  under  General  Webb,  we  would 
have  had  to  take  an  active  part,  and  our  loss  might  have  been 
great,  but  we  could  have  shared  in  the  honors  of  that  victory, 
in  which  about  four  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners  were  captured, 
together  with  five  guns  and  three  battle-flags,  while  our  whole 
loss  did  not  amount  to  two  hundred  and  fifty,  and  included  in 
that  number,  were  three  representatives  of  our  Brigade,  serving 
on  detached  service.  Lieutenant  Michael  Coste,  of  the  Seventy- 
Second  Regiment,  on  the  staff  of  General  Owen,  who  was  then 
commanding  the  Third  Brigade  of  the  Third  Division,  and  Cap- 
tains James  C.  Lynch  and  Francis  Wessels,  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth  Regiment,  the  former  an  aide  on  the  Third  Division 
stafif,  and  the  latter  on  General  Webb's  Staff,  Second  Division, 
all  wounded. 

The  next  morning  the  Brigade  joined  the  Division  at  Bull  Run, 
and  was  formed  in  line  of  battle  on  the  right  of  the  First  Divi- 
sion, with  orders  to  keep  out  of  sight,  and  Colonel  Morehead  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Third  Brigade  of  our  Division, 
leaving  Lieutenant-Colonel  Curry  in  command  of  the  Regiment. 
We  were  now  in  possession  of  Bull  Run  and  Centreville,  and  had 
beaten  Lee  on  that  race  towards  Washington,  who,  finding  him- 
self outmarched,  if  not  whipped,  began  leisurely  to  fall  back  to- 
wards Richmond,  but  made  several  feints  before  retiring  from  our 
front,  furiously  attacking  our  pickets.  On  October  15th  Colonel 
Curry  was  ordered  to  deploy  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regi- 
ment as  skirmishers  and  advance  to  the  support  of  the  pickets. 
At  the  same  time  the  enemy  opened  with  artillery  upon  our  supply 
train,  then  in  sight,  sending  the  shells  in  quick  succession  among 
them,  which  created  the  greatest  confusion  and  started  them  to 


224  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

the  rear  //;  i^rcaf  Jiasfc,  which  soon  terminated  in  a  stampede — 
each  one  for  himself;  wagons,  ambulances,  battery  wagons  and 
forges,  with  the  drivers  whipping  their  horses  and  mules  to  urge 
them  out  of  range.  They  were  also  surrounded  by  the  usual 
number  of  bummers,  and  stragglers,  and  pioneers  and  musicians, 
who  also  made  tracks  out  of  sight  as  fast  as  their  legs  would  carry 
them.  This,  I  believe,  was  all  the  damage  that  was  done,  as  no 
one  was  hurt  so  far  as  I  could  learn.  In  the  meantime  the  picket 
firing  ceased  soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
Regiment.  The  next  three  days  all  was  quiet ;  but  at  daylight  on 
the  morning  of  the  19th  we  started  after  Lee.  Crossing  Bull 
Run  on  a  pontoon  bridge,  we  marched  to  Manassas  Junction,  and 
re-formed  our  line  between  there  and  Bristoe  Station ;  on  the  20th 
pushed  forward  to  Auburn,  wading  Broad  Run  twice  and  then 
Little  Run.  Continuing  our  march,  we  passed  through  Green- 
wich and  Auburn,  waded  Cedar  Creek  and  camped  about  11 
o'clock,  having  marched  about  sixteen  miles.  On  the  23d  marched 
about  eight  miles  to  near  Warrenton  Junction,  where  we  remained 
until  November  7th,  having  Division  drill  on  the  2d,  3d,  4th  and 
5th.  On  the  2d  Major  Stover  returned  from  recruiting  service, 
and  presented  to  the  Regiment  a  very  handsome  pair  of  guidons. 
Upon  the  completion  of  the  repairs  to  the  Orange  and  Alex- 
andria Railroad,  which  had  been  completely  destroyed  by  Lee,  as 
he  fell  back,  and  which  repairs  were  necessary  for  the  forwarding^ 
of  supplies  for  our  army,  we  again  renewed  our  advance  toward 
the  Rappahannock,  leaving  our  camp  about  7  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  November  7,  marching  along  the  railroad,  halting^ 
for  an  hour  at  Warrenton  Junction,  then  on  to  Bealton,  having 
then  got  beyond  where  the  road  was  relaid,  passing  the  men  still 
at  work  replacing  the  ties  and  rails  all  new ;  then  left  the  railroad 
and  marched  direct  for  the  Rappahannock.  We  camped  for  the 
night  within  half  a  mile  of  the  river;  could  hear  firing  all  day. 
Our  Corps  with  the  Third  formed  the  left  w'ing  or  column,  and 
the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps  formed  the  right,  and  the  firing  we 
heard  was  that  of  the  right  wing  which  had  crossed  at  Rappa- 
hannock Station,  where  they  met  with  considerable  opposition  but 
finally  charged  and  captured  the  enemy's  works  with  about  1,500 
prisoners,  four  guns  and  eight  flags  ;  the  left  met  with  little  or 


Lieutenant  James  C  Biggs. 

Sepf.  17,  1861.  Oct.  19,  1864. 

As  Sergeant,  Company  H. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant- Major,  May  i,  1862. 

Promoted  to  First  Lieutenant.  Co.  F.,  Sept.  19,  iS 

Discharged,  Oct.  19,  1S64. 


Sergeant   Richard  F.  Whitmoyer. 

Sept.  12,  i86r.  June  30,  1865 

Re-enlisted  March  30,  1864.     Veteran. 

As  Corporal. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant,   March  20,  1864. 

Promoted  to  First  Sergeant,  June  13,  1865. 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  1864. 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  1864  to  Nov.  26,  1864, 

Mustered  out  with  Company,  June  30,  1865. 


COMPANY  F. 


Jacoi!  Focht. 

Aug.  12,  1861.  June  25,  1865. 

Re-enlisted  March  30,  1864.     Veteran. 

Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  1864. 

Wounded  at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va.,  May  12,'  1864. 

Discharged,  June  26,  1865. 


Thomas  Purcei-l. 

Aug.  14,  1861.  June  i,  1864. 

Re-enlisted  March  30,  1864.     Veteran. 

Killed  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  i,  1864 


1863]  BACK  TO  VIRGINIA  225 

no  opposition  and  crossed  at  Kelly's  Ford  on  pontoon  bridges ;  onr 
Brigade  crossed  early  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  forming  in  line 
of  battle,  our  Brigade  in  the  advance ;  the  Sixty-Ninth  Regiment 
was  deplo3^ed  as  skirmishers ;  advancing  for  about  a  mile,  passing 
a  rebel  camp,  where  the  main  body  halted.  This  was  the  camp  of 
the  Twenty-First  Georgia,  Twenty-Fourth  North  Carolina, 
Second  North  Carolina  Cavalry,  a  regiment  from  Florida  and  one 
from  Virginia,  and  they  had  already  begun  making  themselves 
comfortable  for  the  winter  by  building  log  huts.  Those  of  the 
Twenty-First  Georgia  were  very  fine,  built  regular,  all  about 
the  same  size,  about  fourteen  feet  long  by  six  feet  wide,  with 
board  roofs,  fireplaces  built  in  them,  also  beds  and  stools  ;  and  then 
they  were  compelled  to  leave  all  by  our  unexpected  advance,  and 
the  haste  in  which  they  were  compelled  to  go  is  shown  by  what 
they  left  behind.  In  one  camp  two  bullocks  already  dressed  and 
partly  cut  up,  in  some  huts  the  meals  were  partly  prepared,  in  one 
they  were  baking  griddle  cakes  or  "slap-jacks",  and  did  not  have 
time  to  cat  those  baked  or  take  them  with  them,  another  had  shot 
a  squirrel  and  had  it  all  ready  to  cook,  and  had  to  leave  it ;  one 
had  commenced  a  letter  and  had  got  far  enough  to  say  that  they 
"wxre  ordered  to  put  up  their  winter  quarters,  as  the  Yankees 
had  gone  into  winter  quarters  and  could  not  follow  them  any 
more".  As  soon  as  we  broke  ranks  our  men  rushed  in  and  out 
of  the  cabins  to  see  what  they  could  find ;  it  was  amusing  to  see 
with  what  eagerness  they  would  seize  on  to  parts  of  newspapers, 
reports,  letters,  or  postage  stamps,  even  old  buttons,  and  anything 
and  everything  that  was  found  was  prized  because  it  belonged  to 
a  Rebel. 

About  2  o'clock  we  moved  ofif  by  the  right  flank  and  soon  came 
upon  a  large  body  of  troops.  The  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regi- 
ment were  immediately  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  advancing 
cautiously,  found  that  we  had  struck  our  right  wing,  and  the 
troops  were  the  Fifth  Corjjs  and  Cavalry.  At  dark,  the  Regiment 
was  relieved  and  returned,  and  joined  the  Brigade.  On  the  loth, 
we  moved  two  miles  and  camped  in  a  large  woods,  near  Wilson's 
Mills,  not  far  from  Brandy  Station,  around  which  our  whole 
Corps  was  encamped.  Expecting  to  make  a  IcMig  stay,  we  began 
to  put  up  log  huts. 


22G  THE   ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [18G3 

Lee,  in  the  meantime,  had  withth^awn  from  around  Culpepper, 
and  across  the  Rapidan.  leavings  us  to  occupy  about  the  same  posi- 
tion we  cUd  before  we  began  the  movement  towards  Washington. 
Now,  Meade  determined  to  follow  him  up,  and  force  him  to  fight, 
before  winter  set  in  to  prevent  any  further  movements.  So,  on 
the  24th,  we  were  awakened  about  4  o'clock,  and  ordered  to  pre- 
pare to  move  at  daylight — rations  for  ten  days  were  issued. 
About  7  o'clock  we  left  camp,  and  marched  as  far  as  ^Mountain 
Run, -when  the  order  was  countermanded,  and  we  returned  to 
camp.  On  the  26th,  we  again  started,  crossed  Mountain  Run, 
marched  to  the  Rapidan,  and  about  4  o'clock,  crossed  at  Germania 
Ford.  Considerable  difficulty  was  experienced  in  getting  the 
artillery  up  the  steep  banks  of  the  river ;  the  infantry  had  to  lend 
a  helping  hand  to  get  up  each  piece.  Pressed  forward  to  Wilder- 
ness Run  and  camped,  having  marched  about  thirteen  miles. 

Earlv  the  next  morning,  continued  some- distance  along  the 
Orange  Plank  road,  then  took  to  the  woods  and  moved  towards 
Robertson's  Tavern,  and  between  10  and  it  o'clock,  skirmishing 
began.  Our  Division  was  still  under  command  of  General  Webb, 
and  Colonel  Devereux,  of  the  Nineteenth  Massachusetts,  com- 
manded our  Brigade,  General  Warren  commanding  the  Corps.  Our 
Brigade  was  now  on  the  advance  of  the  Division  and  was  sent 
to  occupy  a  position  on  the  right  of  the  road.  The  Seventy- 
Second  Regiment  was  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  advanced  into 
the  woods  under  command  of  their  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Theodore 
Hesser,  who  was  almost  instantly  killed  while  gallantly  leading 
his  men.  The  remainder  of  the  Brigade  was  formed  and  advanc- 
ing in  line  of  battle  to  the  crest  of  the  hill  lay  down.  Soon  Gen- 
eral Webb  sent  orders  for  a  regiment  to  move  to  the  right  of  the 
picket  line,  to  occupy  an  important  position ;  and  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixth  Regiment,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Curry,  was 
ordered  forward,  and  immediately  gained  the  point.  About  the 
same  time,  the  Seventy-First  was  sent  to  support  the  left,  and  the 
Sixty-Ninth  came  to  the  assistance  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth, 
which,  with  the  First  Brigade,  were  hotly  pressed,  but  soon  re- 
pulsed the  enemy  and  held  their  ground,  and  only  skirmish-firing 
was  kept  up  the  rest  of  the  day. 

At  daylight  the  next  morning,  November  28th,  the  whole  Divi- 


1863]  BACK   rO  J 'IRC  IN  I A  227 

sion  was  formed  in  line  of  battle  and  advanced  for  over  two  miles 
through  dense  woods  and  over  fences,  until  striking  the  enemy's 
skirmishers  near  Mine  Run,  the  Brigade  was  then  placed  in  re- 
serve. On  the  29th  we  were  relieved  by  the  Fifth  Corps  and 
moved  ofif  to  the  left,  making  a  detour  so  as  to  reach  the  enemy's 
right  flank,  passing  Robinson's  Tavern  and  White  Hall  Church 
and  reformed  in  our  new  position  about  dark,  and  about  fifteen 
miles  from  where  we  started  in  the  morning  by  the  road  we  took. 
At  2  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  30th,  we  moved  forward  for 
about  three  miles  along  the  plank  road  at  double-quick  and  were 
soon  outside  the  pickets ;  the  Division  was  formed  in  two  lines, 
the  Philadelphia  Brigade  in  the  first  line,  and  were  ordered  to 
lie  down,  keep  very  quiet  and  make  no  fires.  Were  informed  by 
Colonel  Curry  that  at  7  o'clock  we  would  charge  the  enemy's 
works  in  our  front.  General  Webb  also  addressed  each  regiment, 
and  said  that  our  Division  had  been  selected  for  that  particular 
duty,  and  must  carry  the  works ;  that  we  had  28,000  men  while 
their  force  was  considerably  less,  principally  North  Carolina 
troops.  About  8  o'clock  cannonading  began  on  our  left,  but  we 
remained  quiet.  The  enemy's  works  in  our  front  were  now  plain- 
ly visible  with  their  colors  planted  on  them.  The  men  could  be 
seen  in  large  numbers  moving  around.  All  day  long  we  lay 
there  in  that  position,  suffering  with  the  cold,  with  nothing  to  eat, 
expecting  every  moment  to  get  the  order  to  charge,  and  knowing 
that  it  was  a  forlorn  hope,  that  few  would  ever  reach  their  works, 
or  get  back  alive.  Instead  of  being  merely  rifle-pits  thev  were 
regularl}'  constructed  works  with  a  very  heavy  force  defending 
them ;  with  sixteen  pieces  of  artillery  so  constructed  as  to  sweep 
all  of  the  open  ground,  about  four  hundred  yards  wide,  over  which 
we  would  have  to  charge ;  but  fortunately  for  us,  the  order  to 
charge  was  not  given,  and  towards  dark  we  were  moved  back 
about  three  hundred  yards  in  a  large,  dense  woods,  where  we 
were  allowed  to  make  fires  and  able  to  attend  to  the  inner  man. 

We  remained  in  the  same  position  all  day  of  December  ist;  in 
the  afternoon  threw  up  breastworks.  About  9  o'clock,  just  as 
we  were  making  ourselves  comfortable  for  the  night,  orders  were 
issued  to  fall  back,  which  had  to  be  done  very  quietly ;  everything 
was  muffled,  and  in  order  to  still  further  conceal  our  movement 


228  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 

from  the  enemy,  it  was  necessary  that  two  men  from  each  regi- 
ment should  remain  behind  to  keep  up  the  fires  until  3  o'clock, 
and  volunteers  were  called  for,  two  from  each  regiment  in  the 
Brigade.  Corporal  William  H.  Myers,  of  Company  A,  and 
Private  Peter  Scheik^  of  Company  D,  were  the  two  who  volun- 
teered from  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment.  This  was 
no  pleasant  duty,  deserted  as  it  seemed  by  their  comrades,  liable 
at  any  moment  to  be  captured  and  the  prospect  of  starvation  in 
a  rebel  prison  staring  them  in  the  face — 3'et  those  eight  men  re- 
mained firm  at  their  post  during  those  six  long  hours  of  that  night 
and  faithfully  discharged  their  duty,  leaving  just  before  daylight, 
and  in  safety  reached  their  regiments.  The  men  from  the  other 
regiments  were  Corporal  Frederick  Murphy,  Company  H,  and 
Private  Francis  M'Kee,  Company  D  of  the  Sixty-Ninth ;  Sergeant 
Edward  Teague  and  Corporal  Isaiah  B.  Tapp,  of  Company  F 
of  the  Seventy-First,  and  Corporal  William  H.  Hill,  Company 
E,  and  Corporal  Nathaniel  Rhodes,  Company  I  of  the  Seventy- 
Second  Regiment. 

We  moved  off  quietly,  our  Division  again  covering  the  rear. 
We  had  to  move  very  slowly,  with  frequent  stoppages ;  this  made 
it  very  hard  on  the  men,  as  the  night  was  very  cold  and  we  did 
not  move  fast  or  long  enough  to  keep  warm ;  presently,  those 
ahead  of  us  must  have  started  fires  to  warm  themselves  while 
halting,  and  gone  and  left  them  burning;  soon  the  woods  on  both 
sides  of  the  road  caught  fire,  and  we  were  virtually  marching 
through  fire ;  this  made  it  more  comfortable  for  the  men.  About 
12  o'clock  we  passed  White  Hall  Church,  near  which  we  found 
our  Cavalry  massed ;  they  were  sleeping  on  their  arms,  as  they 
had  their  accoutrements  on  and  were  taking  such  naps  as  they 
could  sitting  around  the  fires,  with  their  horses  saddled  and  ready 
to  mount  and  move  off  at  once.  About  2  o'clock  we  left  the  plank 
road  and  turning  to  the  left  shortly  after  daylight  passed  Culpepper 
Gold  Mines,  and  soon  after  recrossed  the  Rapidan  river  on  pon- 
toon bridges  at  Culpepper  Ford.  Making  a  halt  for  about  an  hour, 
between  10  and  1 1  o'clock,  to  get  breakfast  and  a  short  rest,  then 
continued  the  march  the  entire  day,  December  2d,  making  for  our 
old  camp  as  fast  as  we  could ;  about  dark,  the  roads  becoming 
very  muddv,  we  took  to  the  woods  and  soon  became  mixed  with 


1863]  BACK  TO  I'lRGINIA  229 

part  of  the  Sixth  Corps  that  was  maching  parallel  with  us ;  this 
broke  our  line  and  each  one  then,  started  for  camp  on  his  own 
hook,  where  some  of  us  arrived  about  9  o'clock  at  night,  com- 
pletely used  up,  having  made  a  forced  march  of  forty-two  miles 
in  twenty-four  hours.  Our  men  were  coming  into  camp  all  night 
long ;  some  rested  on  the  wa}'  and  came  in  the  next  morning. 

We  were  now  back  again  where  we  started  from  on  the  26th 
of  November ;  we  had  done  much  marching  and  some  fighting. 
Our  loss  in  the  whole  Brigade  at  Robinson's  Tavern  was  only  ten 
killed  and  twenty-five  wounded,  and  the  enemy's  loss,  as  copied 
from  a  Richmond  paper  by  Colonel  Banes,  was  "fully  five  hundred 
in  killed  and  wounded". 

Thus  ended  the  campaign  in  the  Valley  of  Virginia.  The  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment  bore  its  full  share  of  the  long 
marches,  and  the  ceaseless  vigilance  required  by  the  constant 
manoeuvring  of  the  enemy,  in  the  sharp  conflict  at  Robinson's 
Tavern,  or  Locust  Grove,  the  suffering  from  cold  when  active 
operations  at  j\Iine  Run  were  abandoned,  and  in  that  long  march 
back  to  our  camp,  and  were  now  ready  to  make  themselves  a 
comfortable  home  for  the  winter. 


230  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT         [1863 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

WINTER     QUARTERS      AGAIN. 

THE  day  following  our  return  to  camp  from  Mine  Run,  Dec- 
ember 3d,  we  moved  our  camp  about  half  a  mile  into  a 
large  wood,  and  were  told  that  it  would  be  our  winter 
camp,  but  the  ground  was  so  low  and  damp  that  many  of  the  men 
went  to  General  Webb  and  complained  about  it,  and  he,  ever  ready 
to  look  after  the  welfare  of  his  men,  at  once  gave  instructions  for 
a  change,  and  we  were  taken  back  to  our  old  camp,  where  we 
commenced  to  make  ourselves  comfortable;  when  on  the  5th, 
were  moved  to  Stevensburg,  and  camped  in  a  large  open  field,  far 
away  from  any  wood.  This  was  not  satisfactory,  so  on  the  7th 
were  marched  again,  passing  through  Stevensburg  and  two  and  a 
half  miles  further  toward  Brandy  Station,  and  camped  in  a  large 
wood,  on  a  high  hill.  Our  camp  was  regularly  laid  out  and  we 
were  directed  to  build  our  cabins  and  make  ourselves  comfortable 
for  the  winter. 

On  the  8th  that  welcome  visitor,  the  Paymaster,  arrived  and 
we  were  paid  off.  This  enabled  us  to  get  many  things  that  we 
needed  for  comfort  in  winter  quarters,  that  cannot  be  carried  dur- 
ing a  campaign. 

We  were  now  very  comfortably  fixed  and  had  uninterrupted  rest 
for  five  months ;  our  past  experience  of  the  previous  years  taught 
us  how  to  enjoy  ourselves;  soon  many  received  boxes  from  our 
loved  ones  at  home,  sending  us  many  luxuries  both  for  the  inner 
and  outer  man.  Many  hands  and  feet  were  made  more  comfort- 
able b}-  the  warm  gloves  and  good  boots  sent  from  home,  and  our 
bodies  kept  warmer  with  the  heavier  woolen  underclothes. 
Papers  were  again  plenty,  and  all  the  news  known,  and  we  really 
were  comfortable  and  happy. 

The  men  seemed  soon  to  forget  the  privations,  hardships  and 
fatigue  of  the  long  marches  and  the  excitement  and  dangers  of 
battle  as  they  settled   down   in  their   winter  camp,   and  devoted 


1863]  WINTER  QUARTERS  AGAIN  231 

themselves  to  making  every  arrangement  for  a  comfortable 
winter,  bnilding  comfortable  homes  and  sending  home  for  a  few 
luxuries  and  comforts,  to  help  out,  and  so  pass  the  time  in  easy 
enjoyment  and  comfort,  accepting  the  onl}-  hardships  that  came  to 
them  then,  the  guard  and  picket  duty,  as  a  necessary  evil,  the 
interval  between  each  gave  them  sufficient  time  to  rest  up  and 
be  ready  for  the  next  turn. 

Many  comrades  contributing  more  than  their  share  to  make 
the  lives  of  the  others  more  pleasant.  Among  them  was  Sergeant 
Jonathan  C.  Barnes  of  Company  C,  who  having  a  fine  tenor 
voice  was  always  ready  and  willing  to  entertain  his  comrades, 
officers  as  well  as  men,  with  his  good  singing,  he  was  frequently 
assisted  by  Corporal  Wm.  H.  Myers  and  John  S.  Turner  of 
Company  A.  and  Quartermaster  Sergeant  Wm.  M.  Mehl,  and 
others,  and  many  times  during  those  long  cjuiet  winter  evenings 
would  their  voices  be  heard  as  they  gave  pleasure  to  their  com- 
rades ;  frequently  being  invited  by  the  officers  to  their  quarters 
to  help  them  entertain  their  friends. 

And  then  this  winter  specially  as  we  sat  arount  our  camp  fires, 
would  we  with  much  pleasure  talk  over,  and  count  up  the  days 
when  our  enlistment  would  be  over  and  we  would  be  going  home 
to  our  friends  and  loved  ones,  for  this  was  to  be  the  last  winter 
in  camp  for  many  of  us,  even  if  the  war  was  not  over,  and  sad 
to  relate  it  was  the  last  winter  on  earth  of  many.  Oi  the  three 
others  who  occupied  that  comfortable  little  log  cabin  with  the 
writer,  two  were  killed  in  action,  one  at  Wilderness  and  the  other 
at  Spottsylvania  Court  House. 

Christmas  day  soon  came  upon  us  like  all  other  days,  but  was 
enjoyed  differently.  All  the  members  of  the  Brigade  were  taken 
to  Brigade  headquarters,  and  treated  to  a  "drink  of  whiskey",  and 
then  the  Regiment  and  Company  officers  took  their  turn  in  ex- 
tending the  same  courtesies  to  their  men  until  some  got  too  much, 
and  then  indulged  in  a  row.  Several  fights  occurred,  which  drew 
crowds,  until  dispersed  by  the  officers  :  it  even  extended  to  regi- 
ments, whose  camps  joined,  but  after  all  no  serious  damage  was 
done,  and  Christmas  day  passed  away  like  others,  many  thinking 
they  really  enjoyed  it,  notwithstanding  the  "swelled  heads",  "black 
eyes",  or  smashed  noses". 


232  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SI  NTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

The  next  day  the  Regiment  received  a  new  silk  national  flag, 
and  the  rcuinauts  of  the  old  bullet-riddled  and  storm-tossed  one, 
that  had  been  carried  as  our  standard  throughout  all  our  cam- 
paigns, through  the  siege  of  Yorktown.  the  battles  of  Fair  Oaks. 
Peach  Orchard,  Savage  Station.  Glendale,  Malvervi  Hill,  Antie- 
tam,  Fredericksburg,  Flint  Flill,  Haymarket,  Gettysburg,  Auburn, 
Locust  Grove,  or  Robinson's  Tavern,  were  now  to  be  kindly  and 
sacredly  laid  way,  to  receive  from  future  generations  the  honor 
and  veneration  due  to  it  from  a  loyal  people.  During  the  two 
years  and  four  months  of  its  service,  it  never  drooped  before  the 
enemy,  except  when  its  bearer  was  shot  down,  and  then  to  be 
Cjuickly  held  aloft  by  the  next  man,  though  always  carried  into 
the  thickest  of  the  above-named  engagements,  and  no  member  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania,  when  looking  at  it,  as 
it  n.ow  rests  quietly  in  its  case,  in  the  Capital  at  Harrisburg,  tatter- 
ed and  torn  by  its  hard  service,  but  will  bow  his  head  in  reverence, 
and  still  feel  coursing  through  his  veins  a  spirit  of  loyalty  and 
devotedness  that  will  prompt  him  to  again  respond  to  the  call, 
and  cheerfully  follow  its  duplicate,  should  our  glorious  country 
ever  call  upon  him  to  defend  its  honor.  Rest !  and  may  your 
battle-torn  remnants  inspire  future  generations  to  emulate  the 
example  of  those  who  rallied  around  you. 

The  Government  not  wishing  to  lose  the  services  of  so  many 
well-tried  veterans,  whose  terms  of  enlistment  were  soon  to  ex- 
pire, solicited  their  re-enlistment  during  this  winter  for  three 
years  longer,  and  oiTered  as  inducements  large  bounties,  a  fur- 
lough for  thirty-five  days,  and  allowance  of  the  time  yet  to  serve, 
on  the  new  enlistment.  On  December  i8th.  after  "Retreat",  the 
Regiment  was  addressed  by  Major  Stover,  who  gave  all  the 
necessary  information  and  stated  that  the  bounty  was  $625.  At 
first  few  were  disposed  to  take  advantage  of  the  ofYer,  but  as  the 
winter  and  spring  wore  on,  a  large  percentage  of  those  then  pres- 
ent for  duty,  agreed  to  try  it,  as  nearly  all  thought  that  the  war 
would  be  over  before  their  present  term  of  enlistment  would  ex- 
pire, and  they  might  as  well  have  their  furlough  and  the  additional 
bounty,  and  by  December  30th,  thirty-eight  men  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixth  Regiment  had  re-enlisted,  and  were  waiting  for 
the  thirty-five  da}'s'  furlough,  and  before  the  middle  of  March 


THE  OLD  IIATTLE  1  LAG. 

Now  in  Flag  Case— Capitol,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

Carried  through  the  following  Battles: 

Yorktown,  Fair   Oaks,  Peach   Orchard,  Savage   Station,    Glendale,   White   Oak 

Swamp,  Malvern  Hill,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Flint  Hill,  Haymarket, 

Gettysburg,  Auburn,  Locust  Grove  and  Brandy  Station. 

From  Aug.  28,  1861  to  Dec.  26,  1863. 

New  Flag  received  Dec.  26,  1863,  and  carried  through  the  following  Battles  : 

Wilderness,   Po  River,   Spottsylvania  C.   H.,   North   Anna,   Totopotomoy,   Cold 

Harbor  and   Petersburg. 


1864]  WINTER  QUARTERS  AGAIN  233 

thirty  more  had  conchided  to  remain  in  the  service,  going  home 
in  squads  as  their  furloughs  were  received.  On  March  20th, 
Company  F,  Captain  Farr,  ahnost  as  an  entire  company,  re-enhst- 
ed.  and  thirty  of  them  started  home  on  the  ist  of  April;  this  made 
a  total  of  one  hundred  and  four  men  that  re-enlisted  out  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty-nine  present.  On  the  morning  of  February 
6th,  we  were  awakened  about  half  past  4  o'clock  and  told  to  be 
ready  to  march  at  7 ;  this  was  somewhat  of  a  surprise  to  us.  At 
the  appointed  time  we  started,  and  marched  to  the  Rapidan  and 
crossing  at  Morton's  Ford,  driving  in  the  pickets  of  the  enemy. 
Our  Brigade  being  on  the  advance,  formed,  and  rested ;  remained 
there  over  night  and  returned  to  our  camp  the  next  day ;  we  were 
not  engaged  and  therefore  sustained  no  loss.  This  was  merely 
a  feint  as  though  threatening  an  advance  to  cover  some  of  Butler's 
movements  on  the  Peninsula.  This  was  the  only  interruption 
in  our  five  months'  encampment. 

On  Washington's  Birthday,  the  Corps  Officers  gave  a  large  full- 
dress  ball,  at  Corps  Headquarters,  in  a  large  frame  structure 
about  one  hundred  feet  long  by  fifty  feet  wide,  that  was  erected 
from  rough  pine  boards,  that  had  been  sawed  at  an  old  mill  near 
the  camp.  The  mill  was  operated,  and  the  building  built  and 
decorated  by  the  members  of  the  different  regiments  whose  former 
occupations  were  in  that  line.  The  inside  was  beautifully  de- 
corated with  the  Regimental  and  Headquarters  flags,  as  well  as 
those  from  the  Batteries  and  Cavalry.  A  camp-scene  was  ar- 
ranged on  an  elevated  platform  with  shelter  tents,  camp  utensils, 
drums  and  bugles,  stacked  arms,  accoutrements,  and  two  brass 
Napoleon  guns,  highly  polished.  The  ball  was  a  compliment  to 
the  many  ladies,  families  of  the  officers,  who  were  in  camp,  and 
many  more  came  down  from  Washington  for  the  occasion.  It 
was  a  very  brilliant  affair,  to  w^hich  the  handsome  dresses  of  the 
ladies  and  the  showy  uniforms  of  the  officers  greatly  contributed. 
No  thought  was  given  to  the  dangers  of  the  past,  or  those  of  the 
near  future;  but  all  gave  themselves  up  to  the  enjoyment  of  the 
hour. 

The  next  day  the  whole  Corps  was  ordered  out  for  review,  by 
General  Meade,  and  the  review  was  witnessed  by  over  one  hun- 
dred of  the  ladies  who  were  nresent  at  the  ball,  the  night  before. 


234  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

The  Corps  looked  well  and  did  well.  Meade  may  well  be  proud 
of  "Sumner's  Fighting  Corps",  then  commanded  by  General  Han- 
cock. 

On  the  24th  were  again  paid. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  orders  were  received  to  hold  our- 
selves in  readiness  to  march  at  daylight  the  next  morning,  with 
three  days'  rations.  This  threw  the  camp  into  a  state  of  excite- 
ment ;  but  it  soon  subsided,  and  in  the  afternoon,  held  a  Division 
Inspection  and  Muster.  Nothing  further  w^as  heard  of  the  move 
the  next  da}',  except  to  muster  for  pay. 

On  March  the  5th,  the  Sixty-Xinth  Regiment,  who  had  largely 
re-enlisted,  went  home  on  their  thirty-five  days'  furlough. 

On  Saint  Patrick's  Day  we  had  extra  amusement  and  enter- 
tainment by  an  arranged  horse  race  and  hurdle  jumping  among 
the  officers  of  the  Brigade.  Each  riding  his  own  horse,  the  ex- 
citement and  mistakes  gave  us  much  pleasure  and  anuisement. 

On  the  26th,  our  Brigade  received  an  additional  Regiment,  the 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty-Second  New  York,  numbering  nearly 
six  hundred  men.  This  was  a  large  acquisition,  but  they  were 
not  Philadelphians,  and  therefore  we  could  not  now  be  distinctly 
known  as  the  Philadelphia  Brigade,  much  to  our  regret.  We  had 
also  lost  our  Brigade  Commander,  General  Webb,  who  had  been 
assigned  to  the  First  Brigade ;  this  was  a  sad  loss  to  us,  for  we 
had  learned  to  admire  General  Webb,  and  the  Brigade  was  much 
attached  to  him  ;  l)ut  war  makes  man}-  changes,  and  our  regret  was 
somewhat  lessened  b}'  receiving  in  his  stead  our  old  friend,  Gen- 
eral Owen,  who  again  assumed  command  of  his  old  Brigade,  as 
per  orders  read  on  dress  parade  of  April  6th,  assigning  General 
Gibbon  again  to  the  command  of  the  Division  and  General  Owen 
to  the  Brigade. 

On  April  8th,  Colonel  Morehead,  having  tendered  his  resigna- 
tion, which  had  been  accepted  and  he  discharged,  left  for  home. 
The  men  were  drawn  up  in  line  without  arms,  and  he  attempted 
to  address  them,  but  succeeded  in  saying  only  a  few  words,  being 
overcome  by  his  feelings  in  parting  with  his  men  ;  the  men  gave 
him  three  hearty  cheers,  and,  shaking  hands  with  the  officers  and 
some  of  the  men,  he  left.  He  had  faithfully  served  in  all  posi- 
tions to  which  his  three  vears'  active  service  had  called  him.  but 


1804]  WINTER  QUARTERS  AGAIN  23& 

through  some  technicaHty  or  cause  that  was  never  made  known, 
he  never  received  the  promotion  or  recognition  that  that  service 
deserved.  Many  who  were  far  less  competent  and  did  far  less 
service  were  advanced ;  so  he  returned  home  with  the  satisfaction 
of  duty  well  done,  the  afifections  of  his  men,  the  respect  of  his 
superior  officers,  and  the  honors  of  another  war;  the  separation 
was  mutually  regretted ;  he  was  subsequently  commissioned 
Brigadier  General,  but  not  assigned  to  any  command. 

On  April  14th,  Ala j or  John  H.  Stover  was  promoted  to  Colonel 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-Fourth  Pennsylvania,  and  left 
to  assume  command  of  his  regiment,  and  a  few  days  later,  his 
brother,  a  private  in  Company  F,  was  promoted  to  a  Lieutenancy 
in  the  same  regiment. 

Captain  John  J.  Sperry  of  Company  A,  was  then  commissioned 
Major,  but  owing  to  reduced  command  was  never  mustered,  and 
never  returned  to  the  Regiment  from  the  time  he  was  wounded 
at  Gett3'sburg  until  he  was  mustered  out  with  it,  September  10, 
1864,  in  Philadelphia. 

On  March  loth,  President  Lincoln  assigned  Lieutenant-General 
U.  S.  Grant  to  the  command  of  all  the  Armies  of  the  United 
States,  and  toward  the  first  of  April  he  established  his  head- 
quarters with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac ;  and  on  April  22d,  he  re- 
viewed the  whole  Army.  It  was  a  grand  spectacle ;  about  one 
hundred  thousand  men  then  composed  it. 

On  April  25th,  our  Division  was  compelled  to  witness  the  ex- 
ecution of  a  man  named  T.  R.  Dawson,  of  the  Nineteenth  Maine 
Regiment,  who  was  hung  for  desertion  and  outraging  an  old  wo- 
man. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  our  Brigade  report  showed  our  strength  to 
be  as  follows : 

Total  Present  and  Absent. 

69  Pennsylvania    342 

71  Pennsylvania    589 

72  Pennsylvania    631 

106  Pennsylvania    429 

152  New   York    518 

2509  78  1490 


Present. 

Officers. 

Men. 

20 

304 

13 

303 

15 

284 

9 

229 

21 

370 

236  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

It  was  during  the  reorg-anization  of  the  army  that  General 
Grant,  reahzing  the  great  advantage  of  a  large  and  compact 
cavalry  force,  issued  an  order  for  all  the  cavalry  details  as 
orderlies  at  Brigade  and  Division  Headquarters  to  be  relieved 
and  sent  to  their  regiments,  and  that  volunteers  be  called  for  from 
the  infantry  to  take  their  places. 

It  was  then  that  the  writer,  long  tired  of  his  duties  as  a 
drummer  boy,  and  still  too  small  to  go  into  the  ranks,  saw  a 
chance  to  assume  more  active  duties,  so  was  one  of  the  first  to  vol- 
unteer. In  a  few  days  he  was  ordered  to  report  to  Brigade  Head- 
quarters, and  took  his  place  in  the  line  with  the  others  who  re- 
ported from  the  other  regiments,  to  be  inspected  by  the  Assistant 
Adjutant  General,  and,  being  the  smallest,  was  on  the  left  of  the 
line,  and  when  he  came  to  him,  asked,  "where  is  your  gun", 
replied  that  he  did  not  have  any.  "What  did  you  do  with  it?" 
Never  had  any.  "What  are  you  ?".  \  drummer.  To  h  —  1  with 
you,  go  back  to  your  regiment,  we  don't  want  any  drummers 
down  here".  So  he  returned  to  his  regiment  and  with  tears  in 
his  eyes  reported  to  the  Adjutant  his  failure.  The  Adjutant 
kindly  sympathized  wath  him,  and  told  him  he  would  remember 
him  and  give  him  another  chance  at  the  first  opportunity.  Two 
days  later  an  order  was  received  for  one  man  to  report  to  Division 
Headquarters,  and  the  Adjutant,  true  to  his  promise,  sent  the 
writer  to  report,  and  that  time  he  was  accepted,  no  objection 
being  made  to  his  size  and  was  at  once  given  his  horse  and  equip- 
ments and  assigned  to  duty  and  for  the  balance  of  his  term  of 
enlistment  served  as  orderly  on  the  staff  of  General  John  Gibbon, 
and  by  him  three  times  commended  for  the  manner  in  which  he 
discharged  his  duties  and  finally  promoted  him  to  Corporal  and 
placed  in  charge  of  all  the  other  orderlies  at  those  headquarters. 


CaI'1  . 


\<. 


H. 


FcjRD 

Aug.  24.  1861.  Sept.  10,  18 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3,  186 
Mustered  out  with  Company,  Sept.  10,  i8i 


Corporal  Jefferson  Arthur. 
Aug.  26.  1861.  Jan,  25,  18 

Captured  at  Malvern  Hill.  Va  ,  July  i,  181 
Prisoner  from  July  i,  1862.  to  Aug.  20,  iSt 
Captured  at  Petersburg.  Va.,  June  22,  i8f 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  1864,  to  Nov.  30,  18 
Discharged,  Jan.  25,  1865. 


COMPANY  I. 


1861  1864 

Corporal  Jos.  R.  C.  Ward, 

Aug.  24,  1861.  Sept.  10,  1864. 

As  Musician. 

Detailed  as  Mounted  Orderly  at  Headquarters,  Second  Division,  Second  Corps,  April  15,  18 

Promoted  to  Corporal.  June  22.  1864. 

Appointed  Chief  ot  Orderlies  same  day. 

Wounded  at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va.,  May  12,  1864 

Mustered  out  with  Company,  Sept.  10,  1864. 


1864]  THE    WILDERNESS  237 


CHAPTER  XIX 


THE    WILDERNESS. 


ABOUT  the  first  of  May  it  became  evident  that  General  Grant 
was  about  ready  to  commence  his  "destruction  of  Lee's 
Army".  He  had  now  about  100,000  men  (99,438)  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  inckiding  the  Cavalry  and  Artillery,  they 
having  been  largely  reinforced  with  new  regiments,  many  being 
relieved  from  their  sinecure  positions  guarding  the  fortifications 
around  Washington,  their  full  ranks  contrasting  greatly  with  our 
veteran  regiments,  some  of  these  regiments  having  about  as  many 
men  as  one  of  our  entire  brigades.  Also  many  recruits  were 
received  and  distributed  in  the  old  regiments.  Our  Regiment  re- 
ceived seventy-four,  assigned  to  the  different  companies,  as 
follows :  A,  6 ;  B,  5  ;  C,  i ;  D.  8 ;  E.  i  ;  F,  16 ;  G,  4 ;  H,  26 ;  I,  i  ; 
K,  6. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  now  consolidated  into  three 
Corps;  the  Second,  under  Major-General  W.  S.  Hancock;  the 
Fifth,  under  Major-General  G.  K.  Warren,  and  the  Sixth,  under 
Major-General  John  Sedgwick.  All  of  these  officers  had  at  some 
time  commanded  our  Corps,  the  Second. 

The  Third  Division  of  our  Corps,  lately  commanded  by  General 
Alexander  Hays,  was  disbanded,  six  of  the  regiments  being  as- 
signed to  the  First  Division,  and  six  to  the  Second  Division ;  and 
in  addition  thereto  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty- Second  New  York 
was  assigned  to  the  Second  Division  and  to  our  Brigade ;  and  the 
Third  Corps  was  consolidated  into  two  Divisions,  and  made  the 
Third  and  Fourth  Divisions  of  the  Second  Corps.  The  Divisions 
of  the  Corps  were  then  commanded  as  follows :  First,  containing 
four  Brigades,  by  Brigadier  General  Francis  C.  Barlow ;  Second, 
composed  of  three  Brigades,  by  Brigadier  General  John  Gibbon ; 
Third,  two  Brigades,  by  Major-General  D.  B.  Birney ;  and  Fourth, 
two  Brigades,  by  Brigadier  General  G.  Mott.  The  Brigades  of 
our  Division,  the  Second,  were  commanded :  the  First,  by  Brigad- 


238  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

ier  General  A.  S.  Webb;  the  Second,  by  Brigadier  General  J.  T. 
Owen  ;  and  the  Third,  by  Colonel  S.  S.  Carroll. 

General  Hancock,  our  Corps  Commander,  had  long  been  identi- 
fied with  our  Corps  as  Brigade  and  Division  Commander,  and  for 
over  a  year  had  command  of  the  Corps.  A  brave  and  gallant 
soldier,  a  leader  in  whom  the  men  had  the  utmost  confidence,  his 
bravery  inspiring  them  to  deeds  of  heroism,  and  his  command 
always  found  where  the  fighting  was  the  hottest,  and  so  won  for 
us  the  name  of  the  "Fighting  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac". 
Colonel  Banes  pays  him  the  following  compliment : 

The  Second  Corps,  in  remaining  under  the  command  of  General 
Hancock,  had  their  confidence  strengthened  by  the  experience  of 
more  than  a  year  that  they  would  be  ably  led  and  have  every*  op- 
portunity to  maintain  their  high  renown  as  one  of  the  Fighting 
Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  There  are  some  officers 
whose  appearance  on  the  battlefield,  or  at  the  head  of  a  column, 
imparts  hope  and  secures  the  admiration  of  those  serving  under 
them.  Hancock  not  only  possessed  this  influence,  but  had  the 
prestige  that  came  from  past  success,  and  that  inspired  anticipations 
of  brilliant  achievements  in  the  future.  During  the  period  the 
Corps  had  been  tmder  his  immediate  command,  it  had  never  met  a 
surprise  from  the  enemy  or  lost  a  gun  in  action.  For  a  consider- 
able share  of  his  success  General  Hancock  was  indebted  to  careful 
attention  to  details  and  his  habit  of  demanding  prompt  obedience  to 
minor  orders,  as  well  as  those  of  a  more  important  character. 
Until  these  traits  were  understood  and  known  to  be  the  principles 
of  his  military  action,  the  General  bore  the  character  among  volun- 
teer officers  of  a  martinet. 

We  therefore  felt  that,  come  what  may,  we  would  be  well  led. 

The  advance  was  now  to  be  made,  and  we,  who  were  to  bear 
no  small  part  in  it,  soon  made  ready,  and  about  lo  o'clock  on  the 
night  of  May  3d,  we  left  the  camp  that  had  been  our  home  for  so 
many  months,  the  longest  time  we  had  remained  imdisturbed  in 
any  one  camp.  Knowing  that  some  severe  fighting  and  very 
hard  work  would  have  to  be  done,  yet  buoyant  with  the  hope  that 
but  four  months  intervened  before  we  should  be  home  once  more, 
if  God  spared  our  lives ;  it  was  to  be  our  final  campaign,  yet  many 
left  that  camp  whose  lives  were  required  of  them  before  the  time 
for  going  home  arrived,  and  they  were  instead  taken  to  their 
eternal  home ;  it  was  also  their  final  campaign  on  this  earth.     Our 


1864]  THE    WILDERNESS  239 

direction  was  south,  towards  the  Rapidan  once  more.  Our  Corps, 
which  constituted  the  left  cokunn.  made  for  Ely's  Ford,  and  the 
Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps  composed  the  right  column,  and  were  to 
cross  at  Germania  Ford. 

At  daylight,  on  the  morning  of  the  4th,  we  were  still  continu- 
ing our  march  and  soon  reached  Ely's  Ford,  when  we  found 
that  the  Cavalry,  Gregg's  Division,  had  preceded  us  and  crossed, 
and  the  engineers  were  completing  the  pontoon  bridge.  As  soon 
as  finished,  about  9  o'clock,  we  crossed,  the  troops  on  the  bridge 
and  the  artillery  and  wagons  fording,  marched  to  Chancellorsville, 
and  camped  for  the  night  on  the  old  battleground,  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  from  the  Chancellorsville  House.  During  that  day,  all 
along  the  road  could  be  seen  the  things  thrown  away  by  the  men 
to  lighten  their  loads  and  make  marching  more  easy;  overcoats, 
dress  coats,  blankets,  cooking  utensils,  knapsacks,  books,  old  boots 
and  shoes,  and  many  things  that  had  accumulated  during  our 
winter  camp,  and  for  which  there  was  no  immediate  use. 

At  4  o'clock  the  next  morning,  May  5th,  we  left  camp  and  con- 
tinued our  march  southward  along  the  Brock  road,  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixth  Pennsylvania  was  on  the  advance,  Companies  A 
and  D  were  thrown  forward  as  an  advance  guard,  and  Company 
H  as  flankers.  Passed  Todd's  Tavern  about  9  o'clock,  and  had 
only  proceeded  about  two  miles  further,  when  orders  were  re- 
ceived to  halt.  The  enemy  had  intercepted  the  advance  of  the 
right  column,  under  General  Warren,  and  the  cavalry  on  our  left 
had  also  overtaken  the  enemy,  and  was  engaged. 

General  Lee,  being  more  familiar  with  this  tangled  wilderness, 
and  knowing  that  he  would  have  the  advantage  of  us,  determined 
to  force  a  fight  there.  According  to  his  morning  reports,  his 
whole  force,  including  artillery  and  cavalry,  amounted  to  61,953, 
which  he  could  now  bring  against  Grant,  and  first  attack  him  in 
the  Wilderness.  It  is  fittingly  described  by  Colonel  Banes  as 
follows : 

The  gloomy  region  of  country  called  the  Wilderness,  into  which 
over  one  hundred  thousand  Union  soldiers  had  entered,  is  a  laby- 
rinth of  forests,  in  many  places  filled  with  tangled  underbrush, 
penetrated  by  few  roads,  and  these  for  the  most  part  narrow  and 
easily  obstructed.     The  advantage  possessed  by  an  advancing  force 


240  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SI  NTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

of  concealing  its  movements  was  more  than  neutralized  by  the  ease 
with  which  the  enemy,  familiar  with  the  ground,  could  form  am- 
buscades or  direct  sudden  attacks  on  columns  while  marching. 

And  in  this  wilderness,  instead  of  waiting  an  attack,  Lee  de- 
termined to  make  one,  so  that  the  advance  on  our  right,  under 
Warren,  had  not  gone  very  far  on  the  morning  of  May  5th,  before 
they  struck  the  advancing  columns  of  Lee,  and  discovered  his 
intentions.  He  was  advancing  in  two  columns  along  the  old 
Turnpike  and  Orange  Plank  roads,  which  join  about  two  miles 
from  Chancellorsville,  the  turnpike  crossing  the  road  leading  from 
Germania  Ford  at  the  Wilderness  tavern,  and  the  plank  road 
crossing  the  Brock  road,  about  two  miles  further  south.  It  was 
between  these  two  roads  that  Warren  first  encountered  the  enemy, 
bv  throwing  out  Griffin's  Division  on  his  right  flank,  as  he  was 
advancing  south,  whose  skirmishers  soon  met  those  of  the  enemy, 
and  further  movement  was  stopped.  Warren  withdrew  his  ad- 
vance, that  had  now  reached  the  plank  road,  and  sent  them  to  the 
support  of  Griffin.  About  noon  Griffin  began  the  attack,  and 
drove  the  enemy  in  confusion  for  some  distance,  when  they  rallied, 
and  receiving  heavy  reinforcements,  forced  Warren  back,  he  not 
receiving  the  support  of  that  portion  of  Sedgwick's  Corps  that 
was  to  connect  on  his  right.  Getty's  Division  of  Sedgwick's 
Corps  was,  in  the  meantime,  sent  to  hold  the  ground  at  the 
junction  of  the  plank  and  Brock  roads  until  Hancock's  Corps 
could  be  brought  back. 

About  II  o'clock  we  received  our  orders  to  retrace  our  steps. 
Moving  rapidly  back  on  the  Brock  road,  we  could  hear  the  contest 
going  on ;  and  our  leader,  knowing  the  importance  of  securing 
the  position  held  by  Getty,  to  prevent  our  being  cut  ofif  from  the 
rest  of  the  Army,  urged  his  men  forward,  and  the  latter  part, 
our  Division,  made  at  double-quick,  and  with  cheers  announced  to 
Getty,  who  was  then  hotly  pressed  and  hardly  able  to  hold  out,  our 
arrival ;  about  3  o'clock,  we  were  hastily  formed  on  the  Brock 
road,  with  our  right  resting  near  the  plank  road,  and  began  at 
once  to  strengthen  our  position,  forming  works  of  the  logs,  dead 
trees  and  other  debris  which  abounded,  which  we  had  scarcely 
accomplished  when  Getty's  Division  advanced ;  but  unable  to 
make  anv  headway,  Hancock  sent  Birney's  and  Mott's  Divisions 


1864]  THE    WILDERNESS  241 

to  reinforce  him.  Subsequently  our  Brigade  was  sent  to  the 
support  of  Getty  on  the  plank  road,  and  Carroll's  was  advanced 
in  the  woods  to  the  right  of  the  plank  road  to  support  Getty's 
right,  and  both  soon  became  engaged.  Repeated  and  fruitless 
assaults  were  made  and  repelled  by  the  enemy  from  his  concealed 
position,  until  darkness  closed  the  contest  for  the  night,  and  both 
sides,  exhausted  by  the  severity  of  the  struggle,  lay  upon  their 
arms  awaiting  to  renew  the  struggle  with  the  coming  of  the  day. 
General  Hancock  had  appointed  General  Gibbon  to  command  the 
left  wing,  consisting  of  his  own  and  Barlow's  Divisions,  and 
General  Birney  to  command  the  right,  consisting  of  his,  Mott's 
and  Getty's  Divisions. 

As  soon  as  it  was  daylight  of  May  6th  Hancock  opened  the 
battle  by  advancing  Mott's  and  Birney's  Divisions  of  his  Corps 
and  Getty's  Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  under  General  Birney, 
who  connected  with  Wadsworth's  Division  of  Warren's  Corps, 
on  the  right,  supported  by  the  Brigades  of  Owen  and  Carroll ; 
Webb's  Brigade  having  been  sent  to  protect  our  right  and  relieve 
Getty's  Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps.  This  advance  proved  suc- 
cessful, and  after  about  one  hour's  hard  fighting  gradually  drove 
the  enemy  from  their  works,  and  our  Brigade  pushing  them  out  of 
the  woods,  across  a  large  opening,  crossing  a  small  stream  and 
swampy  ground  to  the  woods  beyond,  inflicting  heavy  loss.  Gen- 
eral Humphreys  says : 

All  (meaning  Wadsworth's  as  well  as  Birney's  command)  at- 
tacked the  enemy  with  great  vigor,  and  after  a  desperate  contest 
the  enemy's  line  was  broken  at  all  points,  and  he  was  driven  in 
confusion  through  the  forest,  suffering  severe  loss  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners.  ^ 

They  then  made  a  stand,  as  the  position  was  a  strong  one,  on 
elevated  ground,  and  were  soon  heavily  reinforced,  and  under 
cover  of  the  woods,  opened  upon  our  line  a  rapid  and  concentrat- 
ed fire,  also  bringing  into  play  two  pieces  of  artillery.  Our  line 
staggered  under  that  heavy  fire  and  came  near  giving  way  in 
confusion,  but  General  Owen's  prompt  action,  ably  assisted  by  the 
Regimental  Commanders,  reunited  the  lines,  but  continued  to  fall 
back  under  cover  of  the  wood  and  through  Getty's  Division  of 
the  Sixth  Corps  there  stationed,  and  lost  heavily,  including  the 


242  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

commanding'  officers  of  the  Seventy-First  and  Seventy-Second 
Regiments,  and  General  Owen  his  gallant  Assistant  Adjutant 
General,  Captain  Seabury;  shortly  after  the  firing  ceased.  Soon 
after,  the  troops  on  our  extreme  left  began  to  give  way,  each  com- 
mand in  succession  falling  back,  until  the  whole  Corps  had  re- 
turned to  their  works  along  the  Brock  road,  on  which  the  regi- 
mental colors  were  planted,  and  the  men  prepared  to  hold  that 
position.  The  cause  of  this  sudden  change  of  base  was  the  ad- 
vance of  Longstreet  on  the  left  flank  concealed  from  view  by  the 
dense  woods  until  they  struck  Birney's  left,  and  although  Han- 
cock and  his  Division  and  Brigade  Commanders  tried  to  arrest  this 
retreat,  they  were  powerless  until  the  line  reached  the  works,  and 
all  this  without  any  firing. 

Soon  after  the  Rebs  made  their  appearance,  having  quickly  re- 
occu])ied  the  ground  we  had  vacated,  and  finding  our  line  en- 
trenched, fired  a  few  volleys  and  then  all  was  quiet  for  awhile. 
In  the  meantime.  General  Burnside,  who  had  arrived  with  his 
Corps  from  Germania  Ford,  was  ordered  to  send  one  of  his 
Divisions  to  report  to  General  Hancock,  and  Stevenson's  Division 
re])orted  to  him  about  9  o'clock  and  participated  in  the  fight  with 
Birney.  About  4  o'clock  the  fighting  began  again,  renewed  in  all 
its  intensity,  assaulting  our  line,  and  as  quickly  repulsed  with 
heavy  loss ;  our  men.  now  behind  their  works,  were  able  to  re- 
taliate for  what  they  received  in  the  morning :  soon  the  woods 
on  our  left  took  fire,  which  soon  reached  our  works  and  ran  along 
them,  the  intense  heat  compelling  our  line,  Mott's  Division,  to 
withdraw  ;  the  enemy  noticing  this,  advanced  like  so  many  devils 
through  the  flames,  charging  over  the  burning  works  upon  our 
retreating  lines  ;  something  must  be  done,  and  Colonel  Carroll  was 
directed  by  General  Gibbon  to  charge  with  his  Brigade,  the  sud- 
denness of  which  not  only  checked  the  rebel  advance  but  started 
them  back,  followed  by  our  men  over  the  still  burning  works  far 
into  the  woods  beyond,  in  utmost  confusion  and  with  heavy  loss ; 
this  closed  the  engagement  in  our  front,  and  soon  after  the  Battle 
of  the  Wilderness  was  over.     General  Humphreys  says  that — 

Mott's  Division  and  Ward's  Brigade  of  Birney's  Division  gave 
way,  retiring  in  disorder.  *  *  *  Anderson's  Brigade  of  Field's 
Division  took  possession  of  that  part  of  the  first  line  of  intrench- 


18G4]  THE    WILDERNESS  243 

ments  and  planted  their  colors  there.  Colonel  Carroll,  of  Gihhon's 
Division  had  his  Brigade  near  at  hand,  and  was  ordered  by  Gen- 
eral Birney  to  drive  them  out.  which  they  did,  moving  forward  at 
double  quick. 

This  is  a  slight  eiTor,  as  Colonel  Carroll  was  directed  by  Gen- 
eral Gibbon  to  move  forward,  who,  from  his  position  in  the  rear 
of  the  woods,  by  sound  of  the  contest,  said  :  "They  are  driving  us"  ; 
and  turning  to  one  of  his  staff,  Captain  Lynch,  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixth  Pennsylvania,  said :  "Captain,  ride  forward  and 
take  Carroll's  Brigade  straight  in  that  direction",  indicating  with 
his  hand  the  direction  of  the  firing.  Captain  Lynch  communicat- 
ed his  instructions  to  Colonel  Carroll  and  accompanied  him  in  the 
advance,  and  they  arrived  just  in  time  and  saved  our  line.  Gen- 
eral Hancock's  dispatch  referring  to  this  says:  "Both  the  attack 
and  counter-attack  were  of  the  handsomest  kind." 

It  was  almost  exclusively  an  infantry  fight,  the  dense  wilder- 
ness of  wood  with  close  underbush,  rendered  both  cavalry  and 
artillery  of  no  use  whatever,  except  that  a  little  artillery  was  used 
in  the  afternoon,  and  two  pieces  on  the  Orange  Plank  road  which 
did  good  service,  while  the  cavalry  operated  far  on  our  left  at 
Todd's  Tavern ;  our  experience  here  was  different  from  any  either 
before  or  after ;  at  no  time  could  the  lines  of  the  enemy  be  seen, 
although  but  a  short  distance  in  front ;  their  line  of  fire  being  the 
only  indication  we  had  of  the  location  of  their  troops,  and  their 
volleys  would  be  the  first  intimation  we  had  of  their  nearness,  and 
these  volleys  would  as  frequently  come  on  our  flank  as  in  our 
front,  and  our  advancing  lines  were  ecjually  as  well  protected, 
until  close  upon  them.  General  Hancock,  speaking  of  this  battle- 
field, says : 

It  was  covered  by  a  dense  forest,  almost  impenetrable  by  troops 
in  line  of  battle,  where  manoeuvring  was  an  operation  of  extreme 
difficulty  and  uncertainty.  The  undergrowth  was  so  heavy  that  it 
was  scarcely  possible  to  see  more  than  one  hundred  paces  in  any 
direction.  The  movements  of  the  enemy  could  not  be  observed 
until  the  lines  were  almost  in  collision.  Only  the  roar  of  musketr}' 
disclosed  the  position  of  the  combatants  to  those  who  were  at  any 
distance,  and  my  knowledge  of  what  was  transpiring  on  the  field, 
except  in  my  immediate  presence,  was  limited,  and  was  necessarily 
derived  from  reports  of  subordinate  commanders. 


244  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

And  General  Humphreys  says : 

So  far  as  I  know,  no  great  battle  ever  took  place  before  on  such 
ground.  But  little  of  the  combatants  could  be  seen,  and  its  pro- 
gress was  known  to  the  senses  chiefly  by  the  rising  and  falling 
sounds  of  a  vast  musketry  fire  that  continually  swept  along  the 
lines  of  battle,  many  miles  in  length,  sounds  which  at  times  ap- 
proached the  sublime. 

The  loss  in  our  Brigade  was  heavy,  that  of  the  Regiment  being 
lo  killed,  37  wounded  and  6  missing — total  53,  out  of  less  than 
200  engaged.  We  remained  quiet  in  our  position  all  the  next 
day,  Saturday,  May  7th.  In  this  battle  the  Regiment  remained 
with  the  Brigade,  and  during  the  whole  fight  the  Brigade  re- 
mained intact  and  executed  all  movements  together,  so  that  no 
special  mention  can  be  made  of  the  Regiment,  as  in  describing 
the  part  taken  by  the  Brigade  we  describe  the  services  of  the 
Regiment.  That  they  bore  their  full  share  of  this  great  battle  is 
shown  by  their  loss  and  in  having  three  men  shot  down  with  the 
colors,  including  Color  Sergeant  Charles  Hickok,  who  was 
instantly  killed.  He  was  a  brave  soldier,  and  faithfully  led  his 
comrades,  calling  upon  them  to  keep  up  with  the  colors ;  he  was 
a  favorite  with  his  comrades,  and  if  at  any  time  one  would  ask 
the  members  of  his  company  to  point  out  a  good  soldier,  they 
would  universally  show  you  Charlie  Hickok. 

The  official  reports  give  our  entire  loss  2,625  killed,  10,220 
wounded  and  2,902  missing — a  total  loss  of  15,387;  while  that  of 
the  enemy  is  only  estimated  at  2,000  killed,  6,000  wounded  and 
3,400  missing — total  11,400,  as  no  record  has  been  found  report- 
ing their  loss  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness. 

It  is  estimated  that,  by  the  woods  taking  fire,  over  two  hundred 
of  our  wounded  perished  in  the  flames  and  smoke,  and  a  much 
larger  number  of  the  dead. 


COMPANY  G. 


Sergeant  Allen  S.  Elliott. 
Aug.  27.  1861.  Sept.  10,  186 

Mustered  out  with  Company,  Sept.  10,  1864. 


1864]  SPOTTSYLVANIA  245 


CHAPTER    XX. 

SPOTTSYLVANIA. 

THE  movement  began  almost  immediately  upon  the  cessation 
of  the  firing.  No  more  waiting  for  reorganization,  or  re- 
inforcements, but  forward  at  once.  The  Fifth  Corps  be- 
gan to  move  about  9  o'clock,  on  the  night  of  the  7th ;  the  different 
commands  were  moving  the  whole  night ;  and  we  followed,  about 
7  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  south,  along  the  Brock  road. 
We  arrived  at  Todd's  Tavern  about  10  o'clock;  here  a  halt  was 
made,  and  the  Corps  placed  in  position  defending  the  Catharpen 
road,  which  connected  the  two  roads  along  which  the  two  armies 
were  passing.  About  2  o'clock,  our  Division  was  detached  from 
the  Corps  and  sent  to  join  General  Warren's  Corps,  then  near 
Spottsylvania ;  the  balance  of  the  Corps  following  the  next  day. 

On  the  afternoon  of  May  9th,  an  attempt  was  made  to  capture 
the  enemy's  wagon  train,  seen  passing  along  a  road  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Po  river ;  and  about  5  o'clock,  the  One  Hundred  and 
Sixth  Pennsylvania,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Curry,  crossed  the 
river,  deployed,  drove  in  their  skirmishers,  and  secured  a  lodg- 
ment. The  rest  of  Gibbon's  Division  then  crossed,  followed  by 
Barlow's  Division,  while  Birney's  Division  crossed  further  up 
the  river ;  darkness  prevented  any  further  movement  that  evening, 
but  early  next  morning  an  advance  was  made ;  the  enemy  was 
found  well  entrenched,  and  the  wagon  train  safely  inside  their 
works.  About  11  o'clock,  received  orders  that  we  were  to  unite 
w4th  General  Warren,  in  his  efforts  to  carry  the  works  in  his 
front  at  Laurel  Hill,  and  Hancock  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
combined  forces,  with  orders  to  assault  those  works.  Con- 
sequently, Gibbon's  Division  was  withdrawn  from  the  other  side 
of  the  Po  river,  and  moved  to  the  left  to  the  position  occupied  by 
Warren's  Corps ;  and  about  2  o'clock,  Barlow's  Division  was  with- 
drawn. This  was  not  done  without  the  enemy  taking  advantage 
of  this  retrograde  movement,  and  charged  the  rear  guard  of  Bar- 


246  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

low's  Division,  inflicting'  heavy  loss ;  many  of  his  men  being 
drowned  in  the  river  and  others  perished  in  the  flames  of  the  bnrn- 
ing  wood ;  and  the  loss  of  one  piece  of  artillery,  which  had  become 
wedged  in  between  two  trees,  in  coming  down  the  river  bank 
through  the  woods,  by  the  horses  becoming  unmanageable,  and 
could  not  be  removed,  as  there  was  no  time  to  cut  down  the  trees 
and  get  it  out.  This  was  the  first  gun  lost  by  the  Second  Corps. 
Our  line  was  formed  on  the  right  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  with 
Birney's  Division  in  reserve.  About  3  o'clock  the  advance  was 
made ;  slowly  and  steadily  the  lines  closed  upon  the  enemy,  and, 
as  our  Division  emerged  from  under  cover  of  the  woods,  which 
was  dense,  and  filled  with  underbrush  of  dead  cedar  trees  so 
interlaced  as  to  make  it  very  difficult  for  troops  to  advance,  they 
were  met  by  a  most  terrific  fire  from  their  works  ;  this  compelled 
the  column,  much  disordered  by  forcing  their  way  through  the 
wood,  to  halt.  Examination  of  their  works,  showed  them 
to  be  so  well  constructed,  and  so  strong,  that  it  was  believed  to  be 
impossible  to  take  them,  and  further  advance  was  not  made. 
Then  it  was  decided  to  assault  them  at  5  o'clock,  to  commence  on 
the  left,  at  a  signal  of  cheers  from  the  men,  and  to  continue  on 
to  the  right,  each  line  to  cheer  as  they  advanced.  About  that 
hour  the  efifort  was  made,  only  to  meet  with  repulse,  and  to  be 
driven  back  with  heavy  loss.  A  portion  of  Cutler's  Division,  of 
the  Fifth  Corps,  reached  the  abatis  immediately  in  front  of  the 
works,  the  others  halted  part  way  and  began  firing,  but  after  a 
few  volleys,  fell  back,  and  the  advance,  having  no  support  also 
fell  back,  and  the  assault  ended,  only  to  be  renewed  at  half-past 
six  o'clock.  Colonel  Carrol  led  the  right  of  his  line  and  gained 
the  enemy's  breastworks,  and  the  whole  line  reached  the  abatis, 
but  not  being  properly  supported  was  compelled  to  fall  back. 
For  that  heroic  assault  he  was  promoted  to  a  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral. And  about  7  o'clock,  Birney's  and  Gibbon's  Divisions 
again  charged,  part  of  the  Fifth  Corps  imiting,  but  met  with  no 
better  success  ;  all  further  attempts  were  then  abandoned,  and  the 
terrible  sacrifice  that  must  have  inevitably  followed  all  such  at- 
tempts, was  averted  ;  as  it  was  known  by  all  the  commanders  of 
the  Brigades  that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  carry  those  works 
bv   assault.     But  thev  obeved   orders,   and   led  their   commands 


COLONEL  WILLIAM   L.  CURRY. 

Nov.  i6,  1861.  July  7,  1864. 

As  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

Promoted  to  Colonel,  April  5,  1864. 

Captured  at  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  June  g,  1862. 

Prisoner  from  June  g,  1862.  to  Sept.  4,  1862 

Wounded  at  Spoltsylvania  C.  H.,  Va.,  May  11,  1864. 

Died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  July  7,  1864.     Wounds. 


1864]  SPOTTSVLJ'ANIA  247 

forward,  and  would  have  done  their  best  to  take  them,  if  forced 
to  continue  the  assault. 

In  these  two  assaults  it  is  estimated  that  the  two  corps  lost 
nearly  5,000  men,  while  the  enemy  could  not  have  lost  1,000. 
Still  further  on  the  left  the  Sixth  Corps,  now  commanded  by  Gen- 
eral Wright,  General  Sedgwick  having  been  killed  the  day  before 
with  a  rifle  bullet  while  placing  a  battery  in  an  exposed  position 
along  his  front,  were  more  successful.  They  had  carried  the  first 
line  of  works,  capturing  nearly  twelve  hundred  prisoners,  several 
guns  and  standards.  They  held  their  captured  line  until  dark 
and  then  retired  for  want  of  support. 

All  day  of  the  nth  no  attempt  was  made  to  renew  the  assault, 
but  continual  and  heavy  skirmishing  was  kept  up  upon  our  men, 
who  were  erecting  works.  The  position  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth  was  somewhat  an  exposed  one,  in  a  hollow,  and  they 
experienced  great  difficulty  in  constructing  their  intrenchments ; 
several  of  the  men  were  shot,  and  in  the  afternoon  Colonel 
Wm.  L.  Curry  fell  mortally  wounded,  and  was  immediately  carried 
to  the  rear,  and  sent  to  Washington,  where  he  died  July  7th. 
This  was  a  great  loss  to  the  Regiment.  He  was  an  efficient 
officer;  brave  and  fearless.  He  had  just  been  promoted  to  Col- 
onel and  the  men  had  full  confidence  in  his  ability  to  command 
them,  and  became  attached  to  him,  and  he  had  won  the  respect 
and  admiration  of  his  superior  officers.  Colonel  Banes  speaks 
of  him  as  follows : 

He  had  won  a  good  reputation  as  a  faithful  and  intelligent 
officer,  and  at  different  periods  of  the  service  had  been  entrusted 
with  the  command  of  a  brigade. 

About  9  o'clock  that  night  we  received  orders  to  be  ready  to 
move  and  to  so  arrange  the  canteens,  cups  and  accoutrements 
so  as  not  to  make  any  noise.  About  midnight  we  started,  moving 
towards  the  left,  and  although  we  moved  but  a  short  distance  in 
a  straight  line  about  five  miles,  yet  the  round-about  way  we  had 
to  go  and  the  obstructions  met,  compelled  us  to  go  slow,  so  that 
it  was  a  little  before  daylight  when  we  formed  in  our  new  position, 
on  the  left  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  with  the  left  of  our  line  resting 
near  Brown's  House,  in  some  old  works  of  the  enemv  then  vacat- 


248  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

ed,  about  half  a  mile  west  of  the  Xy  river,  and  two  and  a  half 
miles  directly  north  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House.  About 
quarter-past  4  o'clock  the  whole  line  advanced,  Barlow's  and  Bir- 
ney's  Divisions  beinp,-  on  the  left  and  ]\Iott's  and  Gibbon's  Divi- 
sions on  the  right.  Barlow's  Division  being  in  the  advance  with 
his  Regiments  doubled  on  the  centre,  and  Birney  deployed  on  his 
right,  and  Mott's  Division  in  Birney's  rear.  The  ground  in  front 
of  the  left  was  clear,  while  that  through  which  our  Division 
passed  was  wooded,  except  about  100  yards.  The  rapidity  and 
quickness  of  the  movement  gave  us  success.  Barlow's  Division, 
without  firing  a  shot,  cleared  the  space  in  their  front  in  quick  time, 
and  captured  the  works  and  all  the  troops  in  them,  and  was 
quickly  followed  by  Birney's,  and  the  line  advancing  obliquely  to 
their  works.  Barlow^  first  struck  them,  and  almost  immediately 
Birney,  and  then  Mott.  The  ground  which  our  Division  had  to 
go  over  was  much  longer,  and  then  the  wood  prevented  our 
quickness  of  movement,  so  that  when  we  emerged  from  the  wood 
the  left  of  the  line  was  within  the  works.  In  the  open  space  over 
which  we  had  to  charge  there  was  a  slight  elevation,  and  in  the 
hazy  light  of  the  breaking  day,  this  was  mistaken  for  their  works ; 
and  with  a  loud  cheer  we  rushed  on  only  to  find  the  real  works 
a  short  distance  further  back,  and  the  enemy  now  aroused,  await- 
ing our  approach,  our  cheer  giving  them  warning,  so  that  we  met 
with  a  terrible  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery  ;  but  the  men  never 
faltering,  and  with  renewed  cheers,  on  we  went,  and  took  the 
works,  after  a  short  hand-to-hand  fight,  capturing  many  prisoners, 
guns  and  colors.  Those  who  were  not  captured  fled  to  their 
second  line,  about  half  a  mile  to  the  rear.  General  Humphreys 
says : 

General  Owen's  and  Colonel  Carroll's  Brigades  of  Gibbon's 
Division  ran  forward  and  entered  the  works  with  them  (Barlow's 
Division)  on  their  left,  capturing  the  two  guns  on  Stewart's  centre, 
and  turning  them  on  the  enemy. 

An  attempt  was  then  made  to  continue  the  advance  and  dis- 
lodge them  from  their  second  line ;  but  this  was  found  defended 
b}^  a  large  force,  and  our  lines  were  so  broken  and  in  more  or  less 
confusion,  all  formation  being  lost,  that  we  could  bring  no  efifec- 
tive  force  against  them.     As  soon  as  we  came  in  sight  they  opened 


1864]  SPOTTSVLVANIA  249 

on  us  a  terrible  fire,  completely  staggering  us,  so  that  it  was  im- 
possible to  reform  our  lines,  though  strenuous  efforts  were  made 
bv  the  Brigade  and  Regimental  commanders.  The  writer  who 
was  serving  as  orderly  on  the  staff  of  General  Gibbon,  command- 
ing the  Division,  was  sent  to  the  rear  with  about  forty  of  the  pri- 
soners, then  just  captured,  which  he  turned  over  to  the 
Provost  Guard,  and  returned  to  the  front.  Not  finding  General 
Gibbon,  he  rode  out  over  the  works  to  the  firing  line  and  reported 
to  General  Owen,  who  asked  him  to  remain  and  assist  him,  as  all 
his  orderlies  were  either  wounded  or  away.  He  cheerfully  assent- 
ed and  receiving  from  Captain  Kelly  of  the  69th  Pennsylvania,  who 
was  badly  wounded,  his  sword,  he  acted  as  aide  to  General  Owen, 
and  assisted  the  Regimental  officers  to  reform  their  lines  to  assault 
the  second  line  of  works  all  under  that  very  heavy  fire.  Unable 
to  gain  those  works,  the  whole  line  was  compelled  to  fall  back  to 
the  first  line  of  works  captured.  For  this  special  and  hazardous 
service  the  writer  was  commended  and  highly  complimented  in  a 
letter  written  by  General  Owen.  A  portion  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth,  with  their  colors,  continued  to  advance,  and  came  upon 
a  line  of  rifle  pits  deserted  except  by  three  men  ;  these  they  made 
prisoners  and  finding  themselves  far  in  advance  of  our  line,  and 
seeing  a  line  of  the  enem}-  advancing  on  their  flank,  and  receiving 
a  heavy  fire  in  their  front,  they  hastily  w'ithdrew  and  found  that 
the  rest  of  the  Brigade  had  already  fallen  back  and  were  occupy- 
ing the  works  and  those  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  who  were 
with  them,  not  seeing  their  colors,  thought  they  had  been  captured 
until  these  men  returned  with  them,  carried  by  Corporal  S.  Macey 
Smith  of  Company  C,  the  eighth  man  who  had  carried  them  that 
day.  Efforts  were  at  once  made  to  reform  the  lines,  when  almost 
immediately  the  enemy  advanced  and  tried  to  retake  their  works. 
Some  of  our  men  manned  the  guns  that  had  been  captured  and 
opened  on  them  with  their  own  ammunition,  though  not  in  a  very 
systematic  or  effective  manner.  The  writer  was  then  sent  back 
by  General  Owen  for  some  of  our  own  artillerymen  to  come  for- 
ward and  man  these  pieces,  which  they  soon  did,  and  their 
familiarity  with  them  soon  made  their  shots  tell,  giving  the  Rebels 
back  their  own  ammunition  as  they  advanced  to  try  and  retake 
these  works.     It  was  evident  that  the  point  we  had  captured  was 


250  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

of  the  greatest  importance  to  the  enemy,  as  its  occupation  by  us 
threatened  to  divide  their  ami}- ;  hence  their  repeated  efforts  to 
retake  it. 

General  Burnside  arrived  with  his  Corps,  forming  on  our  left, 
engaged  the  enemy  soon  after  our  first  assault,  and  endeavored 
to  capture  the  works  in  his  front,  but  failed.  The  Sixth  Corps, 
General  Wright,  advanced  and  made  connection  with  our  right, 
thus  strengthening  our  position  so  as  to  resist  their  repeated 
efiforts  to  retake  it.  Had  Burnisde  advanced  when  Hancock  did, 
and  carried  the  works  in  his  front,  we  would  have  cut  their  army 
in  two,  and  captured  all  that  portion  of  their  force  in  that  salient 
angle,  which  the  line  of  their  works  formed  at  this  point.  All  day 
long  it  was  one  continuous  assault,  with  a  continual  roar  of  artil- 
lery and  rattle  of  musketry.  Assaulting  principally  in  front  of 
our  position,  coming  up  to  the  works  until  the  flags  of  both  armies 
were  on  the  works  at  the  same  time,  yet  our  men  would  iwf  yield, 
but  drove  them  back  each  time  with  fearful  loss.  There  was  no 
formation  yet  of  our  line,  but  the  men  crowded  into  the  works 
and  fought  shoulder  to  shoulder.  Bravely  and  well  did  they 
stand  their  ground,  though  losing  many  of  their  number.  Seven 
diiferent  men  were  shot  down  with  the  colors  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth  Pennsylvania,  including  Captain  Schwartz  of  Company 
A ;  yet  as  each  one  fell,  it  was  quickly  taken  up  by  another,  only 
to  meet  the  fate  of  the  one  who  preceded  him.  Corporal  William 
Wagner  of  Company  A,  was  struck  down  three  dififerent  times 
with  them,  each  wound  being  sufficient  to  render  him  unfit  for 
further  duty,  but  he  refused  to  give  them  up  and  planted  them 
on  the  works,  bidding  defiance  to  the  enemy,  and  only  when  too 
weak  from  loss  of  blood  to  hold  them  any  longer  did  he  give 
them  to  another.  While  our  loss  was  heavy,  that  of  the  enemy 
was  fearful  to  contemplate.  In  front  of  the  works  those  that 
fell  in  the  first  charge  lay  thick,  and  with  each  assault  numbers 
were  added,  until  they  lay  in  heaps,  across  and  on  top  of  each 
other,  while  many  who  fell  wounded  were  killed  by  other  shots 
before  they  could  be  got  to  the  rear,  and  some  of  our  own  men 
shared  the  same  fate. 

Brigadier  General  Grant,  who  commanded  the  Brigade  of  the 
Sixth  Corps  that  joined  our  right,  says  of  this  day's  fighting: 


1864]  SPOTTSYLVANIA  251 

It  was  not  only  a  desperate  struggle,  but  it  was  literally  a  hand- 
to-hand  fight.  Nothing  but  the  piled  up  logs  or  breastworks  separ- 
ated the  combatants.  Our  men  would  reach  over  the  logs  and  fire  into 
the  faces  of  the  enemy— would  stab  over  with  their  bayonets ;  many 
were  shot  and  stabbed  through  the  crevices  and  holes  between  the 
logs  ;  men  mounted  the  works,  and  with  muskets  rapidly  handed 
them,  kept  up  a  continuous  fire  until  they  were  shot  down,  when 
others  would  take  their  place  and  continue  the  deadly  work. 
.  .  .  Several  times  during  the  day  the  rebels  would  show  a 
white  flag  about  the  works,  and  when  our  fire  slackened,  jumped 
over  and  surrender,  and  others  were  crowded  down  to  fill  their 
places.  .  .  .  The  rebel  ditches  and  cross-sections  were  filled 
with  dead  men  several  deep.  The  sight  was  terrible  and  sicken- 
ing; they  were  piled  up  several  deep,  their  flesh  torn  and  mangled. 

The  Confederate  General  McGowan,  of  Hill's  Corps,  says: 

Our  men  lay  on  one  side  the  breastworks,  the  enemy  on  the 
other,  and  in  many  instances  men  were  pulled  over.  .  .  .  The 
trenches  on  the  right  in  the  bloody  angle  had  to  be  cleared  of  the 
dead  more  than  once.  An  oak  tree,  twenty-two  inches  in  diameter, 
in  rear  of  the  Brigade,  was  cut  down  by  musket  balls,  and  fell 
about  12  o'clock  Thursday  night,  injuring  several  men  in  the  First 
South  Carolina  Regiment. 

Yet,  notwithstanding  their  frequent  repulse  and  their  heavy 
loss,  they  would  again  assault,  and  at  one  time  in  the  afternoon 
they  managed  to  turn  the  left  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  exposing  our 
right  flank,  but  our  line  remained  firm,  until  finally,  the  Sixth 
Corps  drove  them  back  and  regained  their  position,  and  night 
found  us  still  in  the  same  position  gained  by  the  first  charge  in 
the  morning,  having  held  it  against  all  their  assaults,  but  gained 
no  more.  Heavy  skirmishing  was  kept  up  during  the  entire 
night.  Thus  closed  one  of  the  most  obstinate  and  deadly  fights 
of  this  campaign,  and  while  otir  success  was  grand,  the  point 
gained  important,  the  result  was  both  glorious  and  sad ;  glorious 
in  the  capture  of  the  works  and  about  8,ooo  prisoners,  including 
two  General  officers  (Major-General  Edward  Johnson,  Bri- 
gadier General  George  H.  Stewart)  30  standards  and  20  pieces 
of  artillery ;  sad  on  accotmt  of  ottr  heavy  loss  ;  in  the  One  Htm- 
dred  and  Sixth  in  addition  to  Colonel  William  L.  Curry,  Captain 
Charles  A.  Schwartz,  commanding  Company  A,  and  Lieutenant 


252  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

Joshua  A.  Gage,  of  Company  D,  were  killed ;  also  Sergeant 
J.  W.  D.  Smith,  of  Company  A;  Privates  Joseph  Canning  and 
Simon  Nathans,  of  Company  B  ;  Sergeant  H.  P.  Blair,  of  Com- 
pany C;  Sergeant  James  H.  Hall,  Corporal  E.  J.  Holcomb,  and 
Private  H.  Harrington,  of  Company  D ;  Sergeant  William  H. 
Muir,  Privates  W.  Ritter  and  T.  Tobin,  of  Company  G;  and 
Private  William  Martin  of  Company  I ;  a  total  of  three  officers 
and  ten  men  killed,  and  twenty-four  wounded,  including  the 
writer,  and  three  missing.  Total  forty,  out  of  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  engaged.  Our  total  loss  was  in  killed,  wounded  and 
missing,  6,820,  about  800  being  missing,  and  that  of  the  enemy 
between  9,000  and  10,000. 

It  was  when  the  left  of  the  Sixth  Corps  was  turned  that  Gen- 
eral Gibbon,  seeing  the  danger  that  threatened  his  line,  said,  "My 
God  they  have  turned  Wright's  left",  and  turning  to  one  of  his 
staff-officers,  said,  "Captain  Embler,  ride  forward  and  gather  up 
all  the  men  you  can  and  throw  them  into  that  break ;  take  an 
orderly  with  you".  Captain  Embler  turning  to  me  said,  "Come 
on,  Ward".  I  was  at  the  time  dismounted,  tightening  the  girth  of 
my  saddle.  I  threw  my  arm  over  the  horse  and  with  one  foot  in 
the  stirrup,  when  I  was  struck  in  the  right  shoulder  by  a  spent-ball 
that  spun  me  around  like  a  top,  it  had  struck  the  hip  of  my  horse 
and  glanced  oft',  and  struck  me  in  the  shoulder.  The  General 
noticed  it  and  said  "Are  you  hurt  much.  Ward?"  I  said  "No  Sir", 
and  lifting  my  disabled  arm,  and  putting  my  hand  in  the  breast  of 
my  blouse,  I  swung  myself  on  my  horse  with  my  left  hand,  and 
taking  the  reins  in  my  teeth,  I  soon  joined  Captain  Embler,  and 
together  we  gathered  up  sufficient  men,  and  led  them  into  the 
breach,  drove  back  the  enemy  and  re-established  our  line,  T  still 
using  the  sword  of  Captain  Kelly. 

On  the  13th  no  further  attacks  were  made,  the  enemy  being 
satisfied  that  the  works  could  not  be  retaken,  and  their  attempts 
had  already  cost  them  heavy  loss.  Occasional  skirmishing,  and 
the  sharpshooters'  shots,  were  the  only  firing  during  the  day,  ex- 
cept that  the  skirmishers  of  a  Regiment  in  Carroll's  Brigade,  ad- 
vancing to  feel  the  enemy's  line,  charged  and  captured  the  colors 
of  a  Rebel  Regiment,  and  General  Carroll  was  severely  wounded. 
On  the  same  day  Mott's  Division,  reduced  by  losses  in  action  and 


1864]  SPOTTSYLVANIA  253 

the  terms   of  service  of   many   Regiments   about   expiring,   was 
consolidated  into  a  Brigade,  and  assigned  to  Birney's  Division. 

The  following  circular  from  Army  Headquarters  was  read  to 
the  troops,  and  encouraged  them  to  continue  their  good  work : 

Headquarters  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
May  13,  1864 

Soldiers  : — The  moment  has  arrived  when  your  commanding 
General  feels  authorized  to  address  you  in  terms  of  congratulation. 

For  eight  days  and  nights,  almost  without  intermission,  in  rain 
and  sunshine,  you  have  been  gallantly  fighting  a  desperate  foe  in 
positions  naturally  strong,  and  rendered  doubly  so  by  intrench- 
ments.  You  have  compelled  him  to  abandon  his  fortifications  on 
the  Rapidan,  to  retire,  and  attempt  to  stop  your  onward  progress, 
and  now  he  has  abandoned  the  last  intrenched  position,  so  tenaci- 
ously held,  suffering  in  all  a  loss  of  eighteen  guns,  twenty-two 
colors  and  eight  thousand  prisoners,  including  two  General  officers. 

Your  heroic  deeds,  and  the  noble  endurance  of  fatigue  and  pri- 
vation, will  ever  be  memorable. 

Let  us  return  thanks  to  God  for  the  mercy  thus  shown  us,  and 
ask  earnestly  for  its  continuance. 

Soldiers,  your  work  is  not  over;  the  enemy  must  be  pursued,  and, 
if  possible,  overcome. 

The  courage  and  fortitude  which  you  have  displayed  render  your 
commanding  General  confident  that  your  future  efforts  will  result 
in  success.  While  we  mourn  the  loss  of  many  gallant  comrades,  let 
us  remember  that  the  enemy  must  have  suffered  equal,  if  not 
greater,  losses.  We  shall  soon  receive  reinforcements,  which  he 
cannot  expect.  Let  us  determine,  then,  to  continue  vigorously  the 
work  so  well  begun,  and  imder  God's  blessing,  in  a  short  time  the 
object  of  our  labors  will  be  accomplished. 

George  G.  Meade, 
Maj  or-General  commanding. 

No  change  was  made  on  the  14th.  In  the  afternoon  there  was 
a  heavy  artillery  duel,  for  a  little  while ;  then  a  regiment  charged, 
captured  two  pieces  of  their  battery.  This  artillery  fire,  on  their 
part,  was  afterwards  found  to  be  to  divert  our  attention,  while  a 
Brigade  of  their  cavalry  rode  around  our  lines,  to  otir  hospital, 
where  they  robbed  our  wounded  of  their  hats,  shoes,  and  what 
clothing  and  other  effects  they  could  hastily  acquire.  A  portion 
of  the  Third  Brigade  of  our  Division  was  sent  after  them,  but 
could  not  overtake  them. 


254  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SINTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

During-  the  early  morning'  of  the  15th.  details  were  made  to  bury 
all  the  arms  that  had  been  gathered  together,  and  could  not  be 
taken  away;  and  at  5  o'clock,  a.  m.,  we  withdrew  from  our  posi- 
tion, in  the  captured  works,  and  moving  to  the  left,  crossed  the 
Ny  river,  and  massed  in  rear  of  Burnside's  Corps,  near  Army 
Headquarters,  about  five  miles  from  our  position  in  the  morning. 
In  the  afternoon,  moved  to  the  right,  and  threw  out  skirmishers 
to  the  right  and  rear. 

On  the  morning  of  the  i6th.  our  Division  moved  ofif,  two  miles 
to  the  right,  and  recaptured  a  hospital,  that  we  had  abandoned, 
containing  about  seven  hundred  of  our  wounded.  These  we  got 
into  the  ambulances  and  wagons,  and  brought  away  ;  and  returned 
to  our  position  without  any  molestation.  About  dark,  on  the  17th, 
marched  back  to  our  old  position,  near  the  Landron  House,  that 
we  left  on  the  15th.  recrossing  the  Xy  river,  and  formed  in  line 
facing  the  works  we  then  vacated,  now  reoccupied  by  the  enemy. 
Our  Division  was  strengthened  that  evening,  by  the  addition  of 
a  new  Brigade,  of  New  York  troops,  known  as  the  Corcoran 
Legion,  containing  the  Sixty-Ninth,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty- 
Fifth,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-Fourth,  and  One  Hundred  and 
Seventieth  New  York  Regiments. 

At  daylight,  on  the  i8th,  we  again  charged  those  works,  and 
our  Division  carried  the  two  lines  of  rifle-pits,  driving  their  force 
back  to  the  third  and  main  line  of  works,  which  we  could  not 
carry ;  the  Sixth  Corps,  on  our  right,  failing  to  capture  the  works 
in  their  front,  we  were  compelled  to  give  up  the  position  we, had 
gained,  and  fall  back.  The  Division  lost  in  this  assault,  two  hun- 
dred and  forty-nine,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing:  and  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  lost  five,  wounded.  This  movement  was 
made  in  the  hopes  that  the  enemy,  following  our  movement  to 
the  left,  would  weaken  their  left,  if  not  entirely  vacate  that  part 
of  their  works,  and  their  left  flank  could  then  be  turned,  inflict- 
ing great  injury  to  them  ;  but  it  was  foimd  they  had  not  done  so. 

Since  leaving  our  winter-quarters  up  to  that  date  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania  had  lost  a  total  of  one  hundred 
and  three,  of  a  total  present  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-nine, 
officers  and  men.  The  total  loss  in  the  Division  during  the  same 
time  was  3,700.  and  that  of  the  whole  army,  33,110. 


1864]  SPOrrSYU'ANIA  255 

About  dark  on  the  evening  of  ]\Ia}'  i8th,  we  again  took  up  the 
Hue  of  march,  again  crossed  the  Xy  river,  and  marched  down 
along  its  bank  to  Anderson's  Mills,  about  five  miles,  where  we 
arrived  about  2  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  19th.  We  remained 
quiet  during  the  day,  and  about  dark  started  again,  but  had  not 
gone  far  before  the  order  was  countermanded  and  we  returned. 
Orders  were  then  issued  to  move  at  11  o'clock,  but  when  in  line 
ready  to  move,  were  countermanded  again,  the  cause  being  that 
a  part  of  E well's  Corps  had  crossed  the  river  far  on  our  right 
flank  to  watch  our  movements,  and  made  for  the  Fredericksburg 
road  and  captured  our  ammunition  train ;  but  before  they  could 
get  away  with  it  or  destroy  it,  Tyler's  Heavy  Artillery  Division 
and  Birney's  Division  of  our  Corps  charged  and  repulsed  them 
and  drove  them  back  with  heavy  loss,  and  safely  moved  off  the 
train. 

About  1 1  o'clock  on  the  night  of  the  20th.  continued  our  march, 
passed  the  Massaponax  Church,  and  shortly  after  daylight  crossed 
the  Richmond  and  Fredericksburg  railroad.  Continuing  south, 
part  of  the  time  along  the  railroad,  passed  through  Bowling 
Green,  thence  to  Milford  Station,  passing  through  fertile  and 
beautiful  country  that  had  not  yet  been  devastated  by  the  stern 
course  of  war ;  the  houses  were  occupied  by  the  women  and 
children  and  negroes,  but  no  men  were  seen  around ;  the  fields, 
green  with  grain  and  grass,  and  stocked  wath  fine  cattle  and 
sheep :  dwellings  and  farm  houses  showing  evidence  of  means 
and  luxury,  contrasting  greatly  with  the  barren  country  and 
wilderness  through  which  we  had  just  previously  been  marching. 

Crossed  the  Mattapony  and  camped  near  Bethel  Church,  about 
5  o'clock,  and  at  once  began  to  throw  up  breastworks.  Remained 
quiet  on  the  22d,  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  other  corps;  but  at 
7  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  23d  started  again,  passing  Bethel 
Church,  and  about  noon  halted  within  a  mile  of  the  North  Anna 
river,  near  where  the  railroad  crosses ;  threw  out  skirmishers, 
who  advanced  towards  the  river  and  met  the  enemy  entrenched 
near  the  river  protecting  the  bridges,  who  immediately  opened  with 
their  artillery  from  the  south  side  of  the  river,  sending  their  shells 
thick  and  fast ;  thus  showing  that  Lee  had  ■  anticipated  Grant's 
movements,   and  having  a  shorter  and  more  direct   route,   was 


256  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

enabled  to  be  in  position  to  intercept  our  march  to  Richmond  in 
that  direction.  As  soon  as  our  batteries  could  be  got  into  posi- 
tion, they  replied,  and  in  a  short  time  the  firing  ceased. 

We  desire  to  again  impress  upon  our  reader  that  the  reason 
we  have  not,  or  do  not,  from  this  time  on,  speak  more  of  the 
Regiment  in  describing  the  movements  and  battles  of  this  cam- 
paign, is  because  of  the  greatly  reduced  numbers,  w^hich  made  the 
Brigade  no  larger  than  a  Regiment  should  be,  and  the  Regiment 
not  much  larger  than  a  Company,  so  that  the  Brigade  executed 
all  movements  as  a  whole  and  when  we  speak  of  the  Brigade,  it 
includes  and  means  the  Regiment,  and  where  we  do  not  make 
special  mention  of  the  Brigade,  but  merely  speak  of  the  Division, 
we  mean  that  the  whole  Division  fought  or  marched  together. 


Captain  Lv.niokd  D.  C.  Tvler. 
Aug.  28.  1861.  Jan.  4,  1865. 

As  Second  Lieutenant. 
Promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  July  17,  1862. 

Promoted  to  Captain.  Feb.  24.  1863. 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  1864. 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  1864,  'o  Dec.  28,  1864. 

Discharged,  Jan.  4.  1863. 


Lieutenant  Wiiiiam   B.  Rosr. 
Sept.  2,  1861.  April  8,  1865. 

As  Sergeant, 
2.  Promoted  to  First  Sergeant,  July  17,  1862 

Promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  Feb.  24,  1863. 

4.  Promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  Jan.  5,  1865. 

34.  Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  1862. 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va..  June  22,  1864. 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  1864.  to  Feb.  22,  1865. 

Discharged,  April  8,  1865. 

COMPANY   H. 


FiKST  Sekghant  Jamfs  J.   Foy. 
Sept.  2,  1861.  March  31,  1865. 

As  Corporal. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant,  May  i,  1862. 

Promoted  to  First  Sergeant,  Feb.  24,  186 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  i8( 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  1864,  to  Dec.  11,  iS 

Disch.TrfpH.    Mnrrh  oi     iRfir 


J.\MES    ThO.MPSON. 

Sept.  2,  1861.  Jan.  17,  1865. 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va..  June  22,  1864. 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  1864.  to  July  i,  1864. 

Discharged,  Jan.  17,  1865. 


1804]  NORTH  ANNA   AND   TOTOPOTOMOV  257 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

NORTH    ANNA    AND    TOTOPOTOMOY. 

WE  were  now  on  the  banks  of  another  of  those  small  rivers 
that  abound  in  Virginia,  which  the  war  brought  into  prom- 
inence, called  the  North  Anna;  this  joining  with  the 
South  Anna,  formed  the  Pamunkey  river.  Our  position  being 
about  twenty  miles  directly  south  of  the  one  left  at  Spottsylvania, 
and  completely  in  the  rear  of  Lee's  army,  had  he  remained  there, 
but  as  has  been  said,  he  was  fully  informed  of  Grant's  movements, 
and  had  fallen  back  and  was  already  in  position  to  contest  our 
further  advance  in  that  direction. 

Hancock's  Corps  was  now  the  left  column,  and  at  the  time  we 
had  reached  the  river,  near  where  the  Richmond,  Fredericksburg 
and  Potomac  Railroad  crosses,  the  right,  under  Warren,  had  ar- 
rived at  the  river  at  Jericho  Mills,  about  four  miles  further  up. 
Warren  was  compelled  to  advance  a  portion  of  his  command,, 
wading  through  the  river,  to  drive  the  enemy  and  secure  a  lodg- 
ment to  enable  him  to'  construct  a  pontoon  bridge ;  after  which  he 
crossed  his  Corps  and  advanced  toward  the  position  held  by  the 
enemy  in  our  front ;  but  in  the  afternoon  before  his  lines  were  all 
formed,  the  enemy  made  a  spirited  and  sudden  assault  upon  his 
line,  throwing  a  portion  of  it  into  confusion,  but  they  soon  rallied 
and  finally  drove  the  Rebels  back  at  all  points,  capturing  about 
I, GOO  prisoners. 

About  6  o'clock  the  same  evening.  May  23d,  Hancock  was  to 
try  his  hand,  and  Birney's  Division  was  selected  to  charge  the 
entrenchments  of  the  enemy  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  and 
secure  the  bridge.  General  Birney,  assisted  by  about  twenty 
pieces  of  artillery,  soon  formed  his  lines  and  charged  over  about 
four  hundred  yards  of  open  ground  under  artillery  and  infantry 
fire,  until  reaching  their  works,  and  carried  them,  ca])turing  some 
prisoners ;  from  our  position  we  could  plainly  see  their  advance 
and  soon  saw  our  colors  planted  on  their  works.     Birney  had 


258  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

driven  them  from  their  works  that  they  had  erected  to  pro- 
tect the  bridge,  but  chtring  the  night  they  made  several  attempts 
to  destroy  the  bridge,  without  success,  consequently  there  was 
continual  heavy  skirmishing  nearly  all  night. 

As  soon  as  it  was  dark  our  division  was  advanced  nearer  the 
river,  to  support  Birney,  and  the  men  at  once  began  to  construct 
earthworks.  They  had  learned  by  experience  now.  that  these 
temporary  fortifications  or  earthworks,  were  of  the  greatest  value ; 
and  when  known  that  the  enemy  was  in  their  immediate  front,  they 
needed  no  commands  to  urge  them  to  take  this  means  to  protect 
themselves,  and  while  entrenching  tools  were  always  carried  in 
the  ammunition  trains,  they  would  not  always  wait  for  them,  but 
with  such  as  they  could  carry  with  them,  their  bayonets,  hatchets, 
even  tincups  and  pieces  of  wood,  they  would  use,  and  at  once 
begin  to  construct  their  rifle  pits  as  soon  as  a  halt  was  made. 
Both  armies  adopted  the  same  method  to  strengthen  their  posi- 
tions, thus  making  each  contest  more  severe  on  that  account. 
While  beyond  doubt  the  works  thus  constructed  saved  many  lives 
and  enabled  each  side  to  more  effectively  hold  their  positions,  it 
was  more  severe  on  the  assaulting  party.  These  works  would  be 
constructed  sometimes  through  valuable  ground;  the  deep 
trenches  cut  through  fields,  orchards  and  gardens,  shade  and  fruit 
trees  cut  down,  slave  huts  and  outbuildings  torn  down  for  the 
timber  to  assist  to  strengthen  the  works,  and  then  perhaps  move 
on  and  leave  them,  as  the  enemy  had  changed  front,  and  leave 
the  owner  to  mourn  the  destruction  of  his  land,  crops,  fruit  and 
shade  trees,  and  perhaps  buildings. 

About  9  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  our  line  advanced 
across  the  river,  and  found  that  the  enemy  had  withdrawn  from 
the  south  bank  of  the  river  to  a  line  running  obliquely  from  the 
river  and  south,  beyond  Hanover  Junction,  and  entrenched  as 
usual ;  our  line  occupied  the  works  vacated  by  them.  The  Sixth 
Corps  had  now  joined  Warren  on  the  right,  and  the  enemy's  line 
in  their  front  also  extended  obliquely  from  the  river  to  the  north 
bank  of  the  "Little  River",  crossing  the  Virginia  Central  Rail- 
road near  Anderson  Station,  thus  forming  a  w^edge.  tapering  to 
the  North  Anna  river. 

Burnside  had  now   arrived  with  his   Corps  and  attempted  to 


1864]  NORTH  ANNA   AND   TOTOPOTOMOY  259 

cross  the  river  between  the  positions  held  by  Hancock  and 
Warren,  but  was  repulsed  with  heavy  loss.  Warren  then  tried 
to  advance  his  line  and  effect  a  union  with  Hancock,  but  he  too 
was  unsuccessful,  and  about  3  o'clock  our  line  was  advanced,  and 
although  they  advanced  bravely  and  persistently,  yet  we  could  gain 
but  little  headway,  and  entrenched  on  the  ground  gained  within 
about  six  hundred  yards  of  their  works.  At  about  5  o'clock  a 
terrible  storm  of  rain  and  hail  set  in,  with  such  force  as  to 
put  an  end  to  all  fighting;  but  as  soon  as  nature's  storm  ceased, 
man's  began  again.  The  Rebels  made  an  assault  upon  Smyth's  Bri- 
gade, and  although  they  made  every  effort  to  carry  our  works, 
they  were  unsuccessful ;  and  Barlow's  Division  was  then  ordered 
to  make  an  assault,  but  found  their  works  too  strong,  as  Lee 
was  enabled  to  reinforce  all  portions  of  his  line  in  short  order, 
and  always  had  a  large  force  defending  any  part  that  was  attack- 
ed ;  while  for  Grant  to  reinforce  either  of  his  flanks,  he  would 
have  to  cross  and  then  recross  the  river.  Night  put  an  end 
to  the  contest.  The  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment  met  with 
no  loss  in  that  position. 

( )n  the  25th,  remained  quiet,  but  on  the  26th  the  Rebels  charged 
the  position  held  by  Birney  protecting  the  bridge,  and  endeavored 
to  cut  our  army  in  two,  but  they  were  repulsed.  Towards  even- 
ing our  batteries  opened  on  their  works,  and  after  bombarding 
them  for  some  time,  our  Division  charged  and  captured  their 
first  line  of  works,  which  we  held ;  this  was  merely  to  deceive 
Lee,  as  at  9  o'clock  orders  were  issued  to  withdraw.  General 
Grant  found  that  the  enemy  was  too  strongly  posted  to  be  dislodg- 
ed, and  had  determined  on  a  further  flank  movement  and  again 
towards  the  left ;  so  we  recrossed  the  North  Anna  river,  march- 
ing all  night,  and  the  next  day,  May  27th,  southward  toward  Han- 
over Town,  and  halted  about  midnight  near  the  Pamunkey  river. 
Starting  again  at  daylight  on  the  28th,  soon  reached  the  river, 
and  about  7  o'clock  crossed  at  Huntley's  or  Nelson's  Ferry  on 
a  pontoon  bridge,  about  four  miles  above  Hanover  Town ;  con- 
tinuing about  a  mile  and  a  half,  halted,  formed  in  line  of  battle, 
and  at  once  began  entrenching.  Our  Corps  was  now  the  center 
and  our  right  joined  the  Sixth  Corps,  and  our  left  the  Fifth. 
Burnside's  Corps,  which  on  May  24th  was  made  part  of  the  Army 


260  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1S64 

of  the  Potomac  and  placed  under  General  Meade's  orders,  was 
held  in  reserve,  conveniently  located  to  reinforce  either  Hancock 
or  Warren,  as  circumstances  would  rec^uire.  The  Sixth  Corps  ex- 
tending on  our  right  to  the  Hanover  Court  House  road,  at 
Crump's  Creek,  and  the  Fifth  on  our  left  to  the  Totopotomoy. 

On  the  morning  of  the  29tli,  each  Corps  commander  was  dir- 
ected to  make  a  reconnoissance  in  his  front,  and,  if  need  be,  sup- 
port it  with  his  whole  force.  The  Sixth  Corps,  General  Wright, 
advanced  Russell's  Division  as  far  as  Hanover  Court  House ; 
meeting  with  no  enemy,  Hancock  advanced  Barlow's  Division  past 
Hawes'  Store  to  the  Totopotomoy,  where  it  was  crossed  by  the 
Richmond  road  and  found  the  enemy  entrenched — a  brisk  skir- 
mish followed,  and  Birney's  Division  was  advanced  to  his  support 
to  hold  the  position  gained — and  on  the  morning  of  the  30th,  our 
Division,  Gibbon's,  was  advanced  and  formed  on  the  left  of  Bar- 
low, about  two  and  a  half  miles  southwest  of  Hawes'  Store,  with 
our  left  near  the  Totopotomoy,  at  the  W.  Jones  house ;  we  drove 
their  skirmishers  for  some  distance,  and  began  entrenching ; 
heavy  skirmishing  all  day.  Burnside's  Corps  was  then  moved 
into  position  on  our  left.  In  the  meantime  Warren  had  advanced 
Grififin's  Division  followed  by  the  rest  of  the  Corps  on  the  road 
towards  Shady  Grove  Church,  until  he  struck  the  swampy  ground 
formed  by  the  small  affluents  of  the  Totopotomoy  near  Huntley's 
Corner,  on  the  other  side  of  which  the  enemy  was  strongly  en- 
trenched ;  and  on  the  afternoon  of  the  30th,  had  a  brisk  skirmish 
with  Early  near  Bethesda  Church.  That  same  evening  Barlow 
attacked  the  enemy  in  his  front,  and  by  a  determined  assault 
carried  their  advanced  rifle-pits. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  31st,  crossed  the  Totopotomoy 
Creek,  drove  their  skirmishers  into  their  works  and  kept  up  a 
continual  heavy  skirmishing  all  day,  but  gaining  no  real  advantage 
except  a  foothold  on  that  side  of  the  creek  and  to  impress  the 
enemy  that  an  attack  was  threatened. 

Tuesday  morning.  May  31st,  found  us  in  rather  a  difficult  posi- 
tion ;  the  enemy  strongly  posted  in  our  front  in  such  a  position 
that  we  could  bring  no  artillery  to  bear  upon  him,  while  he 
could  make  good  use  of  his.  Between  the  lines,  and  immediately 
in  front  of  the  position  held  by  our  Brigade,  was  an  old  frame 


1864]  NORTH  ANNA  AND  TOTOPOTOMOY  261 

building  used  as  a  church,  which  afforded  shelter  for  the  enemy's 
sharpshooters  ;  they  gained  possession  of  it,  and  picked  off  some 
of  our  men.  General  Owen  called  for  volunteers  to  advance  and 
destroy  it ;  several  responded.  Among  those  who  first  volunteered 
was  Denton  G.  Lindley.  Private  of  Company  I,  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixth  Pennsylvania,  who  said  he  would  go  alone  and  set 
it  on  fire,  if  a  detail  was  sent  out  to  draw  their  fire.  This  was  done, 
and  he  alone  pushed  on  to  the  church  with  nothing  but  fagots 
in  his  hands  ;  set  it  on  fire  in  several  places,  burning  it  to  the 
ground,  and  returned  in  safety  to  his  Regiment.  This  was  a  piece 
of  heroism  like  many  others  that  was  unrewarded  and  unknown  to 
histor}',  until  now  recorded. 

That  afternoon  the  enemy  left  their  works  and  charged  War- 
ren's line  in  position  on  the  left,  near  Shady  Grove  Church,  broke 
through  and  threatened  him  with  serious  loss  and  damage,  but  the 
Pennsylvania  Reserves,  by  a  gallant  charge,  drove  them  back, 
inflicting  heavy  loss.  General  Gibbon  was  then  ordered  to  make 
a  diversion  in  his  front  and  charge  the  works  to  prevent  rein- 
forcements being  sent  against  Warren.  A  detail  of  fifty  men 
from  each  regiment  was  sent  forward  to  reinforce  the  skirmish 
line,  and  ordered  to  assault  the  works  in  their  front.  Although 
this  charge  was  gallantly  made,  it  was  found  impossible  to  carry 
them.  They  had  a  strong  line  of  works  with  a  large  force  de- 
fending them,  and  although  part  of  our  line  reached  the  works, 
it  did  no  good ;  some  of  them  were  dragged  over  the  works  only 
to  be  made  prisoners.  The  rest  maintained  the  advanced  position 
they  had  gained,  subjected  to  a  terrible  fire  of  both  musketry  and 
artillery,  and  were  only  able  to  reply  with  the  musket,  and  remain- 
ed there  until  night,  when  they  were  withdrawn.  So  ended  our 
part  of  the  engagement,  known  as  the  battle  of  Totopotomoy. 
About  9  o'clock  again  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  another 
movement  towards  the  left,  marching  all  night. 

The  morning  of  June  2d,  found  us  still  plodding  along,  the  men 
nearly  exhausted  for  want  of  sleep  and  rest. 

The  writer  was  then  serving  as  orderly  on  the  staff  of  General 
Gibbon,  commanding  the  Second  Division  of  Hancock's  Corps, 
and  having  lost  so  much  sleep  for  several  nights,  having  frequent- 
ly to  carry  dispatches  and  orders  while  the  rest  of  the  command 


262  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

were  at  rest  and  asleep,  was  now  completely  worn  out ;  and  during 
one  of  the  many  halts,  dismounted  and  sat  down  to  rest,  holding 
the  bridle  lines  in  his  hands,  and  was  soon  fast  asleep.  The 
column  moved  on ;  the  whole  column  passed ;  artillery  as  well  as 
infantry,  but  he  was  not  disturbed ;  so  imagine  his  surprise  upon 
waking  long  after  daylight,  to  find  himself  entirely  alone,  the 
whole  column  gone  and  his  horse  too,  and  no  one  to  tell  him 
which  way  they  went.  Examining  the  road  he  saw  the  direction, 
and  after  sharp  marching  for  about  five  miles  caught  up  with  the 
artillery,  passing  it,  then  the  long  wagon  train,  then  the  rear  of 
the  Division,  and  finally  the  head  of  the  column  was  reached,  look- 
ing on  all  sides  for  his  horse ;  among  the  artillery,  then  the  wagon 
train,  and  each  regiment  as  he  passed.  Finally. during  a  halt,  found 
him  in  the  possession  of  the  Hospital  Steward  of  the  Fifty-Ninth 
New  York,  and  with  some  difficulty  got  him  back,  with  what  joy 
can  be  imagined.  Many  times  during  that  march  had  he  sighed 
for  his  horse,  and  had  frequently  repeated  the  familiar  phrase, 
"My  kingdom  for  a  horse",  as  he  dreaded  the  consequence  of 
reporting  to' the  General  his  loss  and  hozv  he  had  lost  it. 

We  arrived  at  the  Cold  Harbor  House,  only  about  ten  miles 
from  Richmond,  about  lo  o'clock,  and  the  Division  was  im- 
mediately put  into  position,  and  the  men  instructed  to  get  some- 
thing to  eat  and  such  rest  as  they  could,  as  they  were  completely 
exhausted  from  the  long  march  and  loss  of  sleep.  About  2 
o'clock  the  Division  was  advanced  and  relieved  General  Neil's 
Second  Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps.  Soon  after  our  artillery 
opened  and  our  skirmishers  advanced  a  short  distance.  More 
or  less  skirmishing  was  kept  up  all  day. 

When  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  began  to  advance.  General 
Butler,  with  a  large  force,  designated  as  the  "Army  of  the  James", 
numbering  about  25,000  men,  had  worked  his  way  up  the  James 
river  from  Yorktown  and  landed  at  City  Point  and  Bermuda 
Hundred,  where  he  met  a  force  under  General  Beauregard,  who 
prevented  his  further  advance  and  completely  "bottled  him  up" 
at  that  point.     Butler  fortified  his  position  and  held  his  ground. 

On  May  25th  General  Butler  was  ordered  to  send  all  his  troops 
under  General  W.  F.  Smith  (Baldy)  except  enough  to  hold  his 
position  at  City  Point,  and  on  the  night  of  the  28th  and  morning 


1864]  NORTH  ANNA   AND   TOTOPOTOMOY  263 

of  the  29th,  General  Smith  embarked  with  Brooke's  Division  of 
his  own  Corps,  the  Eighteenth,  and  the  Second  and  Third  Divi- 
sions of  the  Tenth  Corps,  under  Generals  Devens  and  Ames, 
numbering  about  16,000  men,  and  hastened  to  join  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  at  Cold  Harbor,  on  transports,  by  way  of  the  James, 
York  and  Pamunkey  rivers,  landing  at  White  House  on  the 
Pamunkey,  and  marched  to  Cold  Harbor,  arriving  there  June 
1st,  and  met  the  Sixth  Corps  that  had  been  withdrawn  from  our 
extreme  right  and  hastily  moved  to  Cold  Harbor.  Again  was 
Lee  aware  of  this  movement,  and  he  as  rapidly  advanced  Long- 
street's  Corps  towards  Cold  Harbor,  to  prevent  our  crossing 
the  Chickahominy.  These  forces  met.  The  combined  forces  of 
Smith  and  Wright  at  once  assaulted  the  position  held  by  Long- 
street,  and  though  stubbornly  held,  carried  the  first  line  of  works, 
capturing  many  prisoners.  They  then  attempted  to  take  the 
second  line,  but  were  repulsed,  but  firmly  held  their  ground  at 
the  captured  works.  Night  closed  the  contest  of  June  ist,  and 
it  was  in  rear  of  the  position  held  by  Wright,  that  our  Corps 
formed  on  its  arrival  on  the  morning  of  the  2d,  and  in  the  after- 
noon our  Division  relieved  General  Neil's  Division  of  the  Sixth 
Corps. 


264  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

COLD      HARBOR. 

AGAIN  was  our  Corps  the  left  of  the  Hne.  Wright's  Corps, 
the  Sixth,  was  next  on  our  right,  then  Smith's,  the  Eigh- 
teenth, and  Warren's,  the  Fifth,  and  Burnside's,  the  Ninth, 
was  the  right  of  the  Hne,  which  still  rested  on  the  Totopotomoy 
creek,  while  the  left  extended  to  Barker's  Mills,  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  Chickahominy  river.  Our  Division 
was  on  the  left  of  the  main  road,  leading  from  Cold  Harbor  in  our 
lines  to  New  Cold  Harbor  in  the  Confederate  lines,  occupying  the 
ground  between  it  and  the  other  road  connecting  the  two  places, 
upon  which  our  left  rested. 

Our  men  were  to  rest  quietly  that  night — that  is,  as  well  as  they 
could  in  a  heavy  rainstorm,  that  began  about  5  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  and  continued  far  into  the  night,  accompanied  part  of 
the  time  with  hail ;  but  so  much  were  they  in  need  of  sleep  that 
with  no  shelter  whatever,  shielding  only  their  faces,  they  slept 
through  that  dismal  night,  little  dreaming  that  on  the  morrow 
many  would  sleep  their  last  sleep  ;  for  orders  were  even  then  issued 
for  an  assault  along  the  whole  line,  about  4  o'clock  the  next  morn- 
ing. 

Friday  morning,  June  3d,  opened  bright  and  clear,  and  Cold 
Harbor  was  to  witness  a  severe  contest  upon  her  grounds.  The 
signal  for  the  advance  was  to  be  a  single  gun  on  the  left,  and 
about  half-past  four  it  was  fired  and  the  advance  began.  Barlow's 
Division,  in  two  lines,  two  brigades  in  each  line,  was  on  our  left, 
and  Birney's  in  reserve.  Barlow  advanced  and  succeeded  in 
forcing  back  their  first  line,  concealed  and  protected  by  a  sunken 
road,  capturing  many  prisoners,  two  guns  and  a  color.  Follow- 
ing up  his  advantage,  he  succeeded  in  capturing  their  first  line  of 
works,  but  could  not  hold  these  lines,  as  reinforcements  of  fresh 
troops  drove  him  back. 

Our  Division,  still  commanded  by  Gibbon,  advanced  also  in  two 


1864]  COLD  HARBOR  265 

lines ;  Tyler's  and  Smyth's  Brigades  in  the  first,  and  Owen's  and 
McKeen's  in  the  second ;  but  a  swamp  through  which  the  centre 
could  not  pass,  which  widened  as  we  advanced,  broke  our  line 
and  the  effect  of  our  charge.  But  amid  a  galling  fire  the  rest  of 
the  Division  boldly  advanced.  Owen's  and  part  of  Tyler's  Bri- 
gades, to  the  left  of  the  swamp,  and  McKeen's  and  Smyth's  Bri- 
gades on  the  right.  These  advanced  until  they  reached  within 
seventy  yards,  and  part  of  the  First  Brigade  to  within  twenty 
yards  of  the  enemy's  works,  and  struggled  hard  to  go  further  but 
could  not,  and  fell  back  under  cover  of  the  w^oods.  Our  Brigade, 
which  had  been  reinforced  by  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty- 
Fourth  Pennsylvania,  to  which  Major  Stover  of  our  Regiment, 
had  been  promoted  to  Colonel,  still  commanded  by  General  Owen, 
with  orders  to  push  rapidly  forward,  and  pass  over  the  front  line 
in  columns,  had  advanced,  until  striking  the  swamp  and  then  in- 
clining towards  the  left  through  the  woods,  deployed,  and  came 
to  an  opening  or  clear  ground,  at  the  other  side  of  which,  distant 
about  150  yards,  ran  the  enemy's  works  on  elevated  ground. 
Continuing  his  advance  under  a  terrible  fire  of  artillery  and  mus- 
ketry. General  Owen  pushed  on  until  within  fifty  yards  of  their 
works,  while  a  portion  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-Fourth 
Pennsylvania  entered  the  works  and  captured  a  number  of  pris- 
oners but  were  almost  immediately  compelled  to  fall  back  with  the 
rest  of  the  Brigade,  who  were  fighting  hard  to  carry  the  works, 
and  Owen  realizing  that  they  were  too  strong  to  be  taken  by  his 
small  command,  and  seeing  Barlow's  troops  fast  losing  the  ground 
they  had  gained  on  his  left,  leaving  him  without  support,  directed 
his  men  to  lie  down  and  hold  their  positions,  not  willing  to  yield 
any  of  the  ground  he  had  gained,  and  the  men  began  at  once  to 
protect  themselves  by  throwing  up  such  works  as  they  could  of  the 
loose  sand,  with  their  bayonets,  tin  cups,  pieces  of  wood,  and  any- 
thing that  was  within  reach,  that  could  be  used,  all  the  time  sub- 
jected to  a  terrible  fire  from  the  large  number  of  the  enemy  that  filled 
their  works  and  a  flank  fire  from  a  salient  angle  of  their  line  that 
extended  out  to  the  swamp,  on  our  right.  They  soon,  however, 
had  themselves  protected,  and  all  day  long  was  that  continual 
roar  of  musketry  kept  up,  yet  all  day  long  our  little  band  stood 
their  ground.     Thus  for  the  second  time  did  our  noble  Brigade, 


266  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

now  greatly  reduced  by  the  severe  campaign  through  which  it 
just  had  passed,  advance  close  to  the  enemy's  works,  and,  though 
unable  to  carry  them,  refuse  to  yield  what  ground  they  had  gained, 
lay  down  and  held  their  position,  remaining  all  day  subjected  to  a 
terrible  fire,  losing  many  valuable  men ;  but  instead  of  being  with- 
drawn at  night  as  at  Fredericksburg,  entrenching  tools  were  sent 
to  them,  and  they  devoted  the  night  to  fortifying  their  position. 
In  both  cases  was  the  Brigade  commanded  by  General  Owen. 
Colonel  Banes  writes  as  follows  : 

The  Second  Division  advanced  simultaneously  with  Barlow, 
and,  after  passing  through  some  woods,  came  to  a  swamp  that 
grew  wider  as  we  approached  the  intrenchments.  This  separated 
the  commands,  and  at  some  points  interposed  an  impassable  ob- 
stacle. The  Brigades  of  Owen  and  Tyler  advanced  close  to  the 
enemy,  and  a  few  of  the  men  entered  their  works.  The  First 
Brigade  divided  at  the  head  of  the  swamp;  one  portion  joined 
Owen  and  Tyler;  the  other,  led  by  the  gallant  McKeen,  passed  to 
the  right  and  reached  a  point  within  fifty  feet  of  the  enemy.  Here 
they  lost  heavily,  and  being  unable  to  advance,  sheltered  them- 
selves in  a  hollow,  where  they  remained  during  the  entire  day,  re- 
sisting all  attempts  of  the  enemy  to  dislodge  them. 

The  Philadelphia  Brigade,  after  enduring  for  a  short  time  a 
heavy  fire  from  the  enemy,  were  ordered  to  hold  a  position  within 
seventy-five  yards  of  the  Confederate  works.  Taking  advantage 
of  the  ground,  with  surprising  rapidity  they  protected  themselves 
with  a  shallow  rifle-pit,  using  for  the  purpose  bayonets,  knives,  and 
tin  cups.  At  night  intrenching  tools  were  received,  and  the  line 
was  properly  strengthened. 

Again  was  Grant  unable  to  dislodge  Lee  from  his  fortified  posi- 
tion. Lee  had  chosen  his  position  well  and  used  all  the  means 
in  his  power  to  strengthen  it,  profiting  by  the  experiences  of  the 
past,  which  proved  of  great  value  to  him  now ;  and  although  the 
assault  had  occupied  less  than  thirty  minutes  he  was  enabled  to 
infiict  very  heavy  loss  upon  us.  The  severity  of  the  contest  is 
shown  by  that  heavy  loss,  our  Division  alone  losing  1628  men 
in  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  while  that  of  the  enemy  was  very 
light,  sheltered  as  they  were.  Our  men  did  well,  btit  did  not  do 
all  that  was  expected  of  them.  Along  the  whole  line  no  better 
sticcess  was  attained  than  crowned  the  efforts  of  the  Second 
Corps ;  and  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor  may  be  classed  as  a  failure 


1864]  COLD  HARBOR  267 

in  so  far  as  not  to  accomplish  what  was  intended ;  yet  a  success, 
in  that  we  lost  none  of  the  ground  gained,  and  repulsed  all  their 
attempts  to  drive  us  from  our  position ;  which  the}^  first  attempted 
upon  our  Division  just  before  dark,  to  put  a  stop  to  our  men  con- 
structing their  works.  They  were  handsomely  repulsed  with  a 
loss  that  helped  to  equal  ours  of  the  morning.  Again  about  ten 
o'clock  they  made  a  grand  effort  to  take  our  works ;  a  large  force 
jumping  over  their  works  and  gallantly  assaulting  our  line,  and 
again  were  they  repulsed  and  again  paid  dearly  for  that  attempt. 

As  has  been  said  our  Division  loss  was  heavy — 1628  men,  includ- 
ing many  valuable  officers.  The  First  Brigade  all  of  its  field  and 
staff  officers,  leaving  the  Brigade  and  Regiments  commanded  by 
junior  officers;  Colonel  AIcKeen  commanding  the  Brigade  and 
Colonel  Haskell  of  the  Thirtieth  Wisconsin  were  killed.  General 
Owen  lost  two  of  his  staff  officers,  and  the  One  Hundred  and 
Sixth  lost  one  officer.  Captain  S.  R.  Townsend,  killed,  and  sixteen 
men  wounded  and  three  missing.  General  Tyler  commanding 
the  Fourth  Brigade  was  also  wounded.  The  total  loss  of  our 
army  in  that  assault  and  to  June  12th,  when  we  left,  was  14,129, 
whilst  that  of  the  enemy  was  only  between  4,000  and  5,000. 

The  writer  vividly  remembers  that  night ;  our  Division  head- 
quarters were  some  distance  in  the  rear,  at  the  edge  of  the  wood 
through  which  the  line  advanced  in  the  morning.  He  was  sent 
by  General  Gibbon  with  dispatches  to  the  commanders  of  the  Bri- 
gades, two  of  them  were  on  the  front  line  so  close  to  the  enemy's 
works,  who  were  ready  to  fire  at  any  moving  object  or  in  the  dir- 
ection of  the  least  noise.  The  irregular  shape  of  our  line,  the  un- 
known ground  to  go  over,  and  the  darkness  of  the  night  made 
this  trip  very  hazardous  both  as  to  the  firing  and  the  risk  of  getting 
into  their  lines.  Twice  was  he  outside  our  lines  riding  towards 
theirs,  when  recalled  by  our  men,  then  his  horse  coming  near  to 
where  the  men  were  lying,  would  call  from  them  just  aroused 
from  their  sleep,  in  no  very  amiable  tones,  "to  look  out  where  he 
was  going",  and  each  call  would  cause  several  shots  to  be  fired 
in  that  direction,  so  that  he  was  riding  through  fire  all  the  time, 
and  thanked  his  stars  when  he  was  safe  on  the  road  back  to  head- 
quarters, having  executed  his  orders. 

On  the  4th,  about  10  o'clock,  there  was  a  heavy  artillery  duel 


268  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SLXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

brought  on  by  a  party  of  citizens  who  were  very  anxious  to  have 
a  look  at  the  rebel  fortifications,  and  General  Gibbon  conducted 
them  to  the  front.  As  soon  as  they  became  visible  to  the  enemy, 
they  opened  on  them  with  their  artillery.  This  cut  the  inspection  of 
their  works  very  short,  and  such  haste  in  getting  to  the  rear  was 
not  often  seen,  and  was  greatly  enjoyed  by  the  soldiers.  Shortly 
after  dark  the  Rebels  made  another  assault  on  our  works,  and  were 
again  driven  back.  zA.gain  after  dark  on  the  5th,  they  made  an- 
other attempt ;  this  time  crawling  over  their  works  very  quietly, 
tried  to  steal  up  to  our  works,  intending  to  use  only  the  bayonets. 
Our  men  kept  quiet  and  allowed  them  to  get  up  very  close  when 
they  opened  on  them  with  a  well-directed  volley  that  sent  them 
flying  back  to  their  works  leaving  many  behind,  killed  or  too 
badly  wounded  to  get  back. 

A  little  before  dark  on  the  7th  an  armistice  was  granted  to  bury 
the  dead  and  bring  in  the  wounded  of  both  armies  that  lay  be- 
tween the  works,  and  hostilities  were  suspended  for  about  two 
hours,  from  6  to  8  o'clock,  and  both  parties  labored  hard  in  their 
labor  of  love,  providing  for  their  unfortunate  comrades.  We  were 
much  surprised  to  find  that  it  extended  over  into  the  next  morn- 
ing. It  then  became  a  beautiful  sight  to  see  the  colors  or  stan- 
dards of  each  army  planted  on  their  works,  which  in  some  places 
were  so  close  together  that  the  men  sitting  on  them  could  easily 
talk  with  each  other.  In  front  of  our  Division,  members  of  both 
sides  were  washing  together  in  the  same  small  run,  and  joking 
each  other  on  the  results  of  the  previous  days.  It  seemed  very 
odd  to  see  these  men  mingling  with  each  other,  laughing  and 
joking  and  very  friendly,  that  only  a  short  time  before  were  watch- 
ing for  an  opportunity  and  trying  their  best  to  kill  each  other, 
and  would  so  soon  be  trying  it  again.  About  eleven  o'clock 
an  officer  on  the  Confederate  side  called  his  men  back  to  their 
lines,  and  told  ours  he  would  "give  them  five  minutes  to  get  be- 
hind their  works".  And  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  the  firing 
began  again  in  all  its  earnestness  and  danger,  growing  more 
intense  as  the  day  wore  on,  and  towards  dark  became  very  heavy, 
as  though  gathering  fresh  fury  from  their  rest,  now  became  the 
more  severe. 

Thus  during  the  whole  time  our  Brigade  stayed  there,  there 


1864]  COLD  HARBOR  269 

was  kept  up  that  continual  firing,  and  each  night  fresh  assaults 
made  to  drive  us  from  our  position,  the  enemy  being  determined 
not  to  let  us  slip  from  them  again  during  the  night. 

I  need  hardly  recount  the  danger  that  attended  our  men  while 
lying  here.  The  two  lines  of  works  so  close  together  that  each 
could  hear  the  other  talking,  and  each  night  the  One  Hundred 
and  Sixth  Regiment  cut  new  lines  and  worked  their  way  up  closer 
to  their  first  line,  which  they  were  soon  compelled  to  abandon,  but 
their  other  line  was  on  elevated  ground,  so  that  it  completely  con- 
trolled ours,  especially  the  approaches  thereto,  and  every  time 
one  went  to,  or  came  from,  our  front  line  he  did  so  at  the  risk  of 
his  life,  as  their  riflemen  or  sharpshooters  seemed  to  have  their 
guns  leveled  and  sighted,  and  the  instant  anyone  appeared  from 
under  cover  of  the  woods  or  works  he  was  sure  to  receive  about 
a  dozen  shots.  The  Second  Brigade  line  ran  across  an  open 
field  with  a  large  clear  space  for  some  distance  behind  it  to 
the  woods  in  the  rear,  and  to  reach  the  works  one  was  compelled 
to  run  at  full  speed  zigzag  across  this  open  field  under  a  shower 
of  bullets ;  the  works  were  sufficiently  high,  when  close  to  them, 
to  protect  the  men  when  standing,  and  when  in  the  wood  in  the 
rear,  we  were  comparatively  safe,  so  that  many  did  not  attempt 
to  go  from  one  to  the  other,  remaining  where  they  were  until 
dark  and  during  the  night  attending  to  their  wants ;  but  with  the 
writer  it  was  different ;  two  or  three  times  each  day  would  he 
be  sent  with  orders  or  messages  to  the  commanders  of  the  Bri- 
gades, and  both  going  and  returning  would  have  to  run  the  gaunt- 
let of  that  fire. 

The  following  will  illustrate  how  accurate  was  their  aim,  and 
how  ready  to  shoot  at  any  part  of  our  men  visible.  On  one  of  my 
visits  with  orders  to  General  Owen,  I  waited  to  receive  from  the 
men  such  letters  as  they  wished  to  mail  home,  and  while  sitting 
talking  to  one  of  the  men.  Private  Manley,  of  Company  D,  who 
was  telling  me  that  we  were  sitting  just  where  Captain  Lockhart, 
one  of  General  Owen's  staff  officers,  was  wounded  during  the  day, 
and  raising  his  hand  across  my  face,  pointed  to  the  left  and  said : 
"The  shot  must  have  come  from  that  large  tree  over  there".  And 
I,  turning  to  look  in  the  direction  designated,  heard  the  report 
of  a  gun  and  instantly  heard  a  gurgling  sound  at  my  side,  and 


270  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

turning  around  found  Manley  lying  mortally  wounded.  In 
pointing  he  had  got  his  hand  above  the  works,  and  the  sharp- 
shooter had  fired  at  the  hand,  judging  from  it  the  position  of  the 
bodv,  and  shot  him  in  the  neck,  the  ball  passing  downward  into 
the  lungs,  from  which  he  died  in  a  few  days.  I  waited  for  no 
more  letters  but  left  for  headquarters  at  once.  In  going  to  the 
Third  Brigade,  which  had  been  advanced  to  the  position  gained 
by  the  First  Brigade,  we  had  to  ride  over  a  slight  elevation  of 
clear  ground,  which  was  also  controlled  by  the  rifles  of  the  enemy, 
which  we  were  not  long  in  finding  out,  and  before  reaching  it  we 
would  put  spurs  to  our  horses  and  go  over  it  at  a  full  run,  but 
always  received  a  greeting  of  several  shots. 

The  men  of  our  Brigade  suffered  very  much  from  the  heat,  in 
their  exposed  position;  with  no  shelter  of  any  kind  except  such 
as  they  could  rig  up  behind  the  works  of  sand  that  seemed  to 
attract  and  retain  the  heat.  They  were  at  the  mercy  of  that  hot 
summer  sun,  that  made  their  provisions  unpalatable,  and  render- 
ed the  water  they  supplied  themselves  with  during  the  night,  of 
little  use  for  drinking  purposes  long  before  the  day  was  over, 
causing  them  to  suffer  for  want  of  even  water,  and  then  with  no 
facilities  for  washing  either  body  or  clothes.  They  were  certainly 
in  a  pitiable  condition,  yet  they  were  kept  there  for  ten  days  with 
no  relief,  and  to  add  still  further  to  their  discomfiture,  the  enemy 
arranged  small  brass  howitzers  down  in  a  hollow  in  the  rear  of 
their  line,  and  so  elevated  them  to  use  as  mortars,  and  on  the  loth 
began  using  them  at  intervals,  throwing  their  shells  into  our 
works,  which,  burying  themselves  in  the  sand,  or  exploding, 
would  send  the  pieces  in  every  direction,  thus  killing  two  and 
wounding  several  of  the  Brigade.  This  made  our  position  very 
uncomfortable  to  say  the  least,  as  night  and  day  these  unwelcome 
visitors  would  drop  among  us.  Finally  during  the  night  of 
June  loth,  the  First  and  Fourth  Brigades  were  relieved  by  the 
Third  Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps  and  withdrawn  from  their 
perilous  position,  the  Fourth  Brigade  then  relieving  the  First  Bri- 
gade ;  but  it  was  not  until  after  dark  on  the  12th  that  our  Brigade 
and  the  Fourth  were  relieved  and  withdrawn  from  the  front  line, 
and  then  only  to  start  once  more  on  the  march  to  the  left  and  rear. 

We  here,  for  the  first  time  during  our  whole  three  vears'  ser- 


1864]  COLD  HARBOR  271 

vice,  had  a  separation  or  parting  of  the  Regiments  composing 
the  Philadelphia  Brigade ;  these  four  Regiments,  the  Sixty-Ninth, 
Seventy-First,  Seventy-Second,  and  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  like  one  large  family,  had  shared  the 
same  dangers,  endured  the  same  fatigues,  marched  and  fought 
side  by  side  during  the  whole  of  that  time,  each  and  all  rendering 
such  service  as  to  bring  credit  to  the  beautiful  city  of  Brotherly 
Love,  whose  name  they  bore,  and  now,  having  faithfully  discharg- 
ed all  the  duties  that  were  required  of  it  from  the  time  of  its  en- 
listment, what  was  left  of  the  Seventy-First  Regiment  left  us  to 
return  to  their  homes.  It  was  a  sad  and  yet  a  joyous  parting;  sad 
to  us  remaining  behind,  for  it  was  like  taking  part  of  our  body 
from  us,  and  joyous  to  those  going,  having  the  consciousness  of 
duty  well  done,  and  crowned  with  the  laurels  of  many  hard-fought 
battles,  victories  won,  and  faithful  services  rendered ;  and  yet  sad 
to  them,  that  so  few  were  left  to  go,  out  of  that  magnificent  regi- 
ment of  15  companies,  that  first  entered  the  service,  numbering 
nearly  1500  men,  led  by  the  gallant  Baker.  Those  who  re-enlist- 
ed were  assigned  to  the  Sixty-Ninth  Regiment. 

The  morning  of  the  13th  found  us  still  moving.  Shortly  after 
daylight,  we  crossed  the  Richmond  and  York  River  Railroad,  and 
about  sunrise,  halted  at  Ratcliff's  Tavern,  where  the  men  got 
breakfast,  and  then  continued  the  march.  About  1 1  o'clock,  an- 
other halt  was  made  near  the  Chickahominy  while  the  advance 
was  crossing  at  Jones  Bridge.  We  soon  moved  on,  and  about 
2  o'clock,  we  crossed,  leaving  the  First  Brigade  to  cover  the  rear, 
and  take  up  the  bridge ;  we  continued  our  march,  arriving  at 
Charles  City  Court  House  about  6  o'clock.  Here  the  First  Divi- 
sion threw  up  entrenchments ;  and  we  continued  until  within  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  James  river,  near  the  Wilcox  House, 
where  we  rested  for  the  night ;  having  marched  about  thirty  miles. 
This  was  another  change  of  base,  and  executed  so  rapidly  and 
quietly,  as  to  completely  deceive  Lee.  Grant  safely  landed  his 
whole  army  on  the  banks  of  the  James  river,  fifty  miles  from  their 
position  at  Cold  Harbor,  in  two  days. 

Colonel  Banes  savs : 

This    flank   movement   across   the    Penmsula   was    accomplished 
in  two  days  by  a  march  of  over  fifty  miles,  and  was  perfectly  sue- 


272  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

cessful.  It  was  one  of  the  finest  manceuvres,  both  in  its  conception 
and  execution,  that  General  Grant  had  adopted,  and  the  details  are 
exceedingly  interesting.  For  successful  execution  it  depended  not 
only  upon  the  skill  employed  in  planning,  but  very  materially  upon 
quick  movements  performed  without  being  observed  by  the  enemy. 
The  duty  of  masking  the  operations  was  entrusted  to  the  advance 
force,  under  General  Warren.  This  officer,  after  crossing  the 
Chickahominy,  made  a  feint  of  advancing  on  Richmond  by  push- 
ing a  Division  out  on  the  New  Market  road ;  at  the  same  time  he 
had  another  column  driving  a  force  of  the  enemy  across  White 
Oak  Swamp,  while  the  Second  Corps  was  moving  towards  Charles 
City  on  the  James  river.  All  the  routes  of  approach  to  the  line  of 
march  were  carefully  guarded.  At  daylight  of  the  13th  it  was 
known  by  General  Lee  that  Grant  had  left  his  front,  but  it  is  more 
than  probable  that  he  was  ignorant  where  the  next  blow  would 
fall. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  14th,  the  Corps  began  crossing  the 
James  river,  on  steamers  and  transports,  from  Wilcox  Landing 
to  Windmill  Point ;  it  taking  the  entire  day  to  cross  the  Corps. 
Our  Division  began  crossing  about  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and 
it  was  ten  at  night  before  we  were  all  across.  In  the  meantime 
the  engineers  were  at  work  constructing  a  pontoon  bridge,  which 
was  completed  about  midnight ;  and  was  one  of  the  largest  ever 
constructed,  being  over  two  thousand  feet  long,  consisting  of 
one  hundred  boats ;  on  this  the  balance  of  the  army  crossed  on 
the  15th.  We  camped  for  that  night,  a  short  distance  from  the 
river,  establishing  a  strong  picket  line;  and  about  10  o'clock  the 
next  morning,  June  15th,  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  Peters- 
burg, Virginia. 

Bryant  says : 

Between  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  and  the  close  of  the  fight- 
ing upon  the  Chickahominy  was  a  period  of  thirty-seven  days,  dur- 
ing which  Grant  lost  54,551  men,  of  whom  9,856  were  reported  as 
"missing".  Lee  lost  not  far  from  42,000,  of  whom  about  8.500 
were  prisoners. 


LlEUTEN  AN  1 

Sept.  2,  1861. 


I    .     I  I  ASSETT. 


June  10,  1864. 
As  First  Sergeant. 
Promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  July  17,  1862. 

Promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  teb.  24,  1863. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg.  Va,,  Dec.  13,  1862. 

Discharged,  June  10,  1864.     Wounds. 


GUSTAVU 

Sept.  20,  1861. 


K.     MlLLKR. 

Nov. 
Discharged,  Nov.  i.  1864. 


COMPANY  H. 


Thomas   Thompson. 
Sept.  2,  1861.  Feb.  14,  18 

Discharged    Feb.  14,  1863.     Disability. 


Jonathan   C.  Hallowell. 
Sept.  17,  1861.  Dec.  6,  lE 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  i8( 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  1864  to  July  i,  186 
Discharged,  Dec.  6,  1864. 


1864]  PETERSBURG  273 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

PETERSBURG. 

WHILE  our  Corps  was  making  its  way  down  the  Peninsula  to- 
wards the  James,  Smith's  Corps,  the  Eighteenth,  was  as 
rapidly  returned  to  General  Butler,  by  the  same  route  it 
had  come  to  join  the  Army  of  the  Potomac;  viz.,  to  the  White 
House,  thence  by  transports  via  the  Pamunkey,  York  and  James 
rivers,  joining  General  Butler  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  where  it 
arrived  on  Jvme  14th. 

General  Butler  at  once  ordered  an  advance  on  the  enemy's 
works  at  Petersburg,  where  his  forces  arrived  on  the  morning  of 
June  15th,  but  the  assault  was  not  made  until  towards  dark  of 
that  day,  and  succeeded  only  in  carrying  their  first  line  or  outer 
works,  capturing  several  guns  and  a  few  hundred  prisoners. 
We  think  he  might  have  done  better ;  for  had  he  made  his  assault 
earlier  in  the  day,  he  would  have  been  able  to  have  followed  up 
his  advantages  and  obtained  possession  of  the  city,  as  the  force 
of  the  enemy  was  small,  only  about  4,000,  poorly  entrenched,  and 
could  easily  have  been  driven  out. 

At  10  o'clock  the  same  day,  our  Corps  having  all  crossed,  left 
our  position  near  Windmill  Point,  where  we  had  crossed  the 
James,  and  pushed  on  rapidly  toward  Petersburg,  our  Division 
going  by  the  Prince  George  Court  House  road.  We  arrived  at 
the  works  near  Petersburg,  about  ten  o'clock  at  night,  and  our 
Division  was  at  once  put  into  position  in  the  captured  works,  re- 
lieving the  colored  troops  of  Butler's  forces,  who  had  stormed 
and  captured  these  works  a  short  time  before  ;  and  tired  and  weary 
our  men  sought  what  rest  they  could,  and  while  they  slept,  their 
leaders  were  planning  for  an  assault  on  the  enemy's  works,  to 
be  made  at  daylight.  This  was  destined  to  prove  no  very  easy 
task,  as  Lee  was  then  aware  of  Grant's  intentions,  and  had  hastily 


274  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

pushed  his  forces  forward  to  hold  and  protect  the  city.  All  night 
long  we  could  hear  the  trains  steaming  into  the  city,  bearing 
their  living  freight  to  reinforce  the  troops  stationed  there,  and  as 
soon  as  they  arrived  they  were  thrown  into  the  works,  and  began 
at  once  to  fortify  and  strengthen  their  position ;  so  that  when  day- 
light dawned  a  complete  line  of  works  surrounded  the  city,  filled 
with  large  numbers  of  their  best  troops,  and  their  numbers  fast 
increasing;  thus  transferring  their  efforts  to  defend  their  capitol 
and  uphold  their  cause  to  this  new  section  of  their  country  that 
was  so  soon  to  witness  such  bloodshed  and  carnage ;  these  two 
powerful  armies  were  again  brought  face  to  face  to  contest 
for  mastery,  transported  in  two  days,  the  one  about  fifty  and  the 
other  nearly  one  hundred  miles. 

Hancock,  now  in  command,  as  neither  Generals  Grant  or  Meade 
had  yet  arrived,  realizing  the  importance  of  prompt  action,  decid- 
ed to  assault  the  works  at  once ;  orders  were  issued  for  Gibbon's 
and  Birney's  Divisions  to  begin  the  advance  at  daylight.  Shortly 
after  daylight  our  skirmishers  advanced  and  drove  their  line  nearly 
one  mile  and  into  their  works,  and  at  six  o'clock  the  grand  as- 
sault was  made.  Our  column  stormed  the  works  and  though  the 
charge  was  gallantly  made  the  enemy  could  not  be  dislodged,  and 
holding  the  ground  we  had  gained  we  at  once  began  entrenching. 
At  6  o'clock  in  the  evening  another  attempt  was  made  to  carry 
the  works ;  the  Second  and  Fourth  Brigades  of  Gibbon's  Division 
charged  together  and  captured  a  line  of  rifle-pits  filled  with  men, 
and  then  pushed  on  to  Harrison's  Creek,  driving  the  enemy  to- 
wards the  main  line  of  works  on  the  other  side  of  the  creek,  amid 
a  most  terrible  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry,  but  owing  to  Birney's 
Division  on  our  left  not  advancing,  our  line  was  compelled  to  halt, 
and  the  main  line  was  not  reached ;  but  holding  on  to  the  addi- 
tional ground  gained  prepared  to  hold  it,  and  again  began  en- 
trenching, and  by  the  next  morning  was  strongly  posted  in  our 
advanced  position. 

On  that  day  the  writer  received  his  promotion  to  corporal  at 
the  solicitation  of  General  Gibbon,  on  whose  staff  he  was  serving 
as  orderly,  when  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Major  Norval, 
the  Assistant  Adjutant  General,  called  him  and  handed  him  the 
following  order : 


1864]  PETERSBURG  275 

Special  Order  Headquarters  io6th  Regiment  P.  V. 

No.  June  i6,  1864, 

Musician  Joseph  Ward,  Company  I  is  hereby  appointed  corporal 
of  said   Company  from  this   date. 

By  command  of  John   R.   Breitenbach, 

Captain  commanding  Regiment. 

then  told  him  he  was  placed  in  command  of  all  the  orderlies  at 
these  Headquarters.  This  was  a  great  surprise  to  the  writer ;  he 
was  the  youngest  and  smallest  orderly  at  those  headquarters,  all 
the  others  being  old  enough  to  be  his  father,  but  as  General 
Gibbon  had  several  times  commended  him  for  his  bravery,  and 
the  manner  he  had  discharged  his  duties,  he  had  taken  this  means 
to  show  others  that  services  well  rendered  were  recognized  by  him. 

Heavy  skirmishing  during  all  day  of  the  17th,  and  having  de- 
cided on  another  attempt  to  gain  possession  of  the  city,  the  men 
were  called  to  arms  at  2  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  i8th. 
General  Hancock,  suffering  from  the  wound  received  at  Gettys- 
burg, was  unable  to  sit  on  his  horse,  and  compelled  to  remain  in 
his  quarters,  relinquished  the  command  of  the  Corps  to  General 
Birney.  Shortly  after  daylight  our  artillery  opened,  and  there 
ensued  for  one-half  hour  a  heavy  cannonading,  and  then  the  grand 
charge  was  made,  and  succeeded  in  driving  them  from  their  two 
lines  of  temporary  works,  they  falling  back  to  their  permanent 
line  nearer  the  city.  Trying  to  follow  up  our  advantage  about 
noon  another  charge  was  made  by  our  Division,  but  could  gain 
no  additional  ground.  So  again  at  6  o'clock,  the  final  assault 
was  made  by  the  whole  Corps,  but  this  too  was  unsuccessful,  and 
closed  the  contest  for  the  day.  Three  successive  charges  were 
made,  and  well  made,  but  again  did  we  find  it  impossible  to  carry 
the  city,  now  so  strongly  fortified.  We  had  only  gained  a  little 
ground,  and  lost  many  good  men. 

That  evening,  June  i8th.  General  Gibbon  was  mustered  as 
Major-General  and  General  Pierce  as  Brigadier  General. 

On  the  20th,  about  dark,  our  Division  was  relieved  by  Neil's 
Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  and  moved  and  camped  near  the  Black- 
water,  and  on  the  21st  moved  about  three  miles  further  to  the  left 
and  formed  a  new  line,  with  our  right  resting  on  the  Jerusalem 
Plank  road,  the  left  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  Grifiin's  Division,  was  on 


276  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

the  right  of  the  road.  We  at  once  began  constructing  works,  under 
a  continual  heavy  skirmish  fire.  During  the  night  the  Sixth 
Corps  arrived  and  formed  to  the  left  and  rear  of  our  corps. 

June  22d  gave  us  the  usual  heavy  skirmishing  of  the  advanced 
lines,  terminating  in  the  afternoon  in  three  distinct  assaults  upon 
the  works  now  occupied  by  our  Division,  that  is,  the  First  and 
Second  Brigades ;  each  time  they  were  repulsed  and  driven  back 
to  their  works ;  the  third  time  advancing  in  three  lines,  yet  they 
met  the  same  fate  and  were  sent  back  faster  than  they  came. 
In  the  meantime  General  Birney,  still  in  command  of  the  Corps, 
was  directed  to  advance  his  left  by  a  half  wheel  to  the  right,  to 
take  possession  of  the  ground  in  their  front,  unoccupied  owing 
to  the  curve  of  the  enemy's  w^orks ;  the  Second  Division  to  be 
the  pivot.  The  First  Division,  under  Barlow  on  the  left,  moved 
forward,  but  instead  of  wheeling  around  to  the  right  they  ad- 
vanced straight  to  the  front,  making  a  gap  between  them  and 
Mott's  Division,  next  on  our  left,  who  had  made  his  half  turn  to 
the  right,  and  as  Barlow  advanced,  he  increased  the  gap ;  the 
enemy  quick  to  perceive  this,  took  advantage  of  it  and  immediate- 
ly pushed  three  brigades  through  the  opening,  giving  Barlow's 
Division  a  volley  on  the  flank,  completely  routing  them,  making 
many  prisoners  and  sent  the  balance  flying  to  the  left  and  rear, 
then  pressing  towards  the  right  fell  upon  Mott's  Division  and 
crushed  it,  and  they  came  pouring  back  down  past  our  Division, 
calling  out  "Fall  back;  you  are  outflanked!"  thus  exposing  the 
left  of  our  Division,  who  had  just  repulsed  the  third  assault  in 
their  front,  and  before  they  had  time  to  comprehend  the  meaning 
of  the  warning  given  them  by  the  fleeing  mass  of  the  Mott's 
Division,  received  the  column  of  the  enemy  in  their  rear,  with  a 
demand  to  surrender.  The  First  Brigade  was  on  the  right  and 
our  Brigade  on  the  left  of  the  Division,  commanded  by  Major 
O'Brien  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-Second  New  York,  with 
the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-Third  Pennsylvnia  on  the  left,  ex- 
cept four  companies,  then  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsyl- 
vania, then  the  Seventy-Second,  the  Sixty-Ninth  Pennsylvania 
and  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-Second  New  York  in  reserve; 
therefore,  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  was  the  first  struck,  and 
before  they  had  time  to  change  front,  found  themselves  nearly 


1864]  PETERSBURG  211 

all  prisoners.  Several  Rebels  sprang  for  the  colors  in  the  hands 
of  Corporal  John  Houghton,  of  Company  F,  acting  Color  Ser- 
geant, who,  seeing  there  was  no  chance  of  getting  away  with 
them,  assisted  by  Private  Henry  Weinert  of  Company  C,  tore 
them  from  the  staff  and  endeavored  to  hide  them  in  their  bosoms, 
but  were  detected,  and  immediately  a  scuffle  began  for  the  pos- 
session of  them ;  two  or  three  other  members  of  the  Regiment 
rushed  to  their  assistance,  and  together  they  tore  the  colors  to 
pieces  before  the  Rebs  had  time  to  get  possession  of  them,  hid  the 
pieces,  and  the  staff  was  broken  in  two  by  others  and  thrown 
over  the  works.  The  enemy  had  come  down  from  the  left  flank 
and  rushed  upon  our  men  in  the  rifle-pits,  who  were  steadily 
loading  and  firing  to  the  front.  Major  Anderson,  of  the  Forty- 
Seventh  Georgia,  stepped  up  to  Captain  Tyler,  whom  he  took  to 
be  in  command  of  the  Regiment,  and  said :  "Colonel,  I  thank  you 
for  your  sword",  and  Captain  Tyler  surrendered  his  equipments 
and  at  once  gave  the  order  to  "cease  firing".  The  Major  then 
directed  him  to  get  his  men  to  the  rear  as  soon  as  possible  to  avoid 
further  loss.  This  onslaught  was  so  sudden  that  only  a  short 
time  before,  orders  were  passed  along  the  line  "to  hold  their  posi- 
tion at  all  hazards",  and  a  few  minutes  before.  Captain  Whitaker, 
of  the  Seventy-Second  Pennsylvania  Brigade  "Offlcer-of-the- 
day",  passed  along  the  line  and  said :  "Keep  it  up,  boys,  we're 
driving  them",  and  before  he  had  time  to  get  far,  found  himself 
a  prisoner.  Our  loss  was  almost  the  entire  command,  including 
Privates  Lukens,  of  Company  A ;  Webster  of  Company  B ;  Arm- 
strong, of  Company  D ;  and  Anderson  and  Smith,  of  Company  H, 
killed.  Twelve  were  wounded,  and  three  officers  and  seventy-two 
men  were  captured,  but  one  officer  and  eleven  men  escaping;  so 
that  there  was  but  one  officer  and  twenty-eight  men  in  the  Regi- 
ment reported  present  the  next  morning.  A  majority  of  these 
were  non-combatants,  and  so  were  not  in  the  rifle-pits. 

General   Humphreys   describes   the   movement   of   the   22d   as 
follows : 

In  order  that  the  enveloping  line  should  be  at  a  suitable  distance 
from  the  enemy's  works,  General  Birney,  commanding  the  Second 
Corps,  was  further  directed,  on  the  226.,  to  swing  forward  its  left, 
the   right   of   Gibbon's   Division   which   connected   with   the   Fifth 


278  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

Corps  being  the  pivot,  and  intrench.  .  .  .  General  Wright  was 
directed  to  move  to  and  get  possession  of  the  Weldon  Railroad 
and  intrench,  connecting  with  Birney.  .  .  .  The  two  Corps 
were  moving  chiefly  through  densely  wooded  thickets.  ...  It 
was  late  in  the  afternoon  before  General  Gibbon  had  intrenched  his 
part  of  the  new  line.  General  Mott  was  still  at  work  upon  his. 
General  Barlow  was  only  partially  in  position,  but  General  Birney 
had  not  taken  the  requisite  precaution  to  secure  his  left  in  swinging 
forward.     (Italics  ours.) 

General  A.  P.  Hill  had  been  sent  down  the  Weldon  Railroad  to 
meet  Meade.  .  .  .  He  passed  through  the  opening  between 
Birney  and  Wright,  and  the  first  intimation  Birney  had  of  his 
presence  was  a  fire  upon  the  flank  and  rear  of  Barlow's  Division, 
which  sent  it  back  in  some  confusion  to  the  position  it  had  in  the 
morning,  and  with  the  loss  of  many  prisoners.  Mott's  Division, 
partly  seeing  what  had  occurred,  went  back  precipitately  also  to  the 
position  from  which  it  had  advanced,  and  by  doing  so,  lost  much 
fewer  prisoners  than  Barlow's  Division,  but  left  Gibbon's  Division, 
without  any  warning,  to  receive  a  fire  in  the  rear  of  its  left  Brigade, 
which  at  once  followed  the  example  of  the  troops  on  its  left,  and 
abandoned  a  battery  of  four  guns  on  its  right  to  the  enemy,  who 
quickly  turned  it  on  them.  So  sudden  and  unexpected  was  the  at- 
tack on  Gibbon's  left,  that  the  greater  part  of  several  regiments 
were  captured  with  their  colors.  An  immediate  attempt  was  made 
by  General  Gibbon  to  recover  his  line,  but  without  success.  He 
lost  about  as  many  prisoners  as  the  First  Division ;  the  total  loss 
of  the  whole  Corps  being  about  1700  prisoners,  four  guns  and 
several  colors. 

General  Humphreys  makes  no  mention  of  the  heroic  efforts  of 
the  Philadelphia  Brigade,  the  left  of  Gibbon's  Division,  to  hold 
their  position  repulsing  the  three  different  assaults  in  their  front ; 
and  at  the  time  of  their  capture,  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth 
Pennsylvania,  the  extreme  left  of  Gibbon's  line,  were  steadily 
firing  to  their  front,  even  while  the  enemy  was  in  their  rear ;  and 
ceased  firing,  upon  order  from  Captain  Tyler,  after  he  had  sur- 
rendered his  sword  to  Major  Anderson ;  and  there  was  no  chance 
for  them  to  "follow  the  example  of  the  troops  on  their  left". 
General  Humphreys  is  in  error,  when  he  states  that  "the  greatest 
part  of  several  regiments  were  captured  with  their  colors",  as  only 
the  one  regiment  was  captured,  and  that  almost  entire ;  but  their 
colors  did  not  fall  into  the  enemy's  hands.  The  other  regiments 
lost  but  few  members  each. 


1864]  PETERSBURG  279 

The  Sixty-Ninth  and  Seventy-Second  Regiments  being  on  our 
right  and  seeing  the  fate  that  befell  our  regiment,  moved  off  rapid- 
ly to  the  right  and  rear,  saving  their  colors  though  losing  some 
of  their  officers  and  men.  A  Brigade  of  the  First  Division  of  the 
Fifth  Corps  was  quickly  advanced,  and  checked  the  further  ad- 
vance of  the  enemy,  and  together  with  the  remnants  of  our  Divi- 
sion, endeavored  to  recover  our  works  and  the  lost  ground ;  but  the 
enemy  occupying  our  works  refused  to  yield,  turned  upon  us 
our  own  guns,  repulsed  our  attempts  to  drive  them  back,  and  the 
conflict  closed  for  the  day.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  23d  our 
skirmishers  advanced  only  to  find  that  the  enemy  had  vacated 
the  works  during  the  night,  and  being  unable  to  remove  the  guns, 
spiked  and  left  them.  We  found  all  of  our  dead  stripped  to  the 
skin. 

This  was  the  last  engagement  of  the  "Philadelphia  Brigade",  in 
fact,  the  Brigade  may  be  said  to  have  ceased  to  exist,  the  Seventy- 
First  Regiment  having  been  mustered  out.  The  remnants  of  the 
other  three  regiments  gathered  together  would  not  make  a  regi- 
ment; and  what  a  strange  coincidence  in  its  life,  that  its  first  and 
last  battles,  "Ball's  Bluff  and  Petersburg",  should  both  result  so 
disastrously,  not  only  in  killed  and  wounded  and  the  capture  of 
many  of  its  members,  but  in  the  loss  of  one  of  its  colors  in  each 
fight,  that  of  the  senior  Regiment,  the  "Seventy-First",  at  Ball's 
Bluff,  and  that  of  the  junior  Regiment,  the  "One  Hundred  and 
Sixth",  at  Petersburg.  Yet  neither  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy. 

Finally  the  Brigade  was  ofificially  disbanded  on  June  28th,  by 
the  transfer  of  the  Sixty-Ninth,  Seventy-Second  and  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixth  Regiments  to  the  Third  Brigade,  and  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty-Second  New  York  and  One  Hundred  and 
Eighty-Fourth  Pennsylvania  to  the  First  Brigade,  and  the  Fourth 
Brigade  designated  as  the  Second,  thus  taking  from  us  our  name 
and  Brigade  flag  that  we  had  fought  under  so  long,  in  so  many 
hard-fought  battles,  in  which  the  flag  was  pierced  by  thirty-nine 
bullets,  and  giving  both  to  a  new  Brigade  that  had  seen  but  a 
month's  active  service,  making  them  the  Second  Brigade  of  the 
Second  Division  of  the  Second  Corps,  that  had  such  a  brilliant 
record  won  by  the  three  years'  service  and  bitter  fighting  of  the 


280  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

Philadelphia  regiments.  This  was  a  severe  blow  to  our  officers 
and  men,  one  that  they  keenly  felt ;  and  they  did  not  hesitate  at 
all  times  to  give  expression  to  their  feelings  whenever  General 
Gibbon  was  around,  under  whose  order  the  change  was  made, 
which  the  men  attributed  to  his  antagonism  to  General  Owen, 
whom  he  succeeded  in  removing  from  the  command  of  this  Bri- 
gade, and  now  robbed  them  of  their  good  name  and  battle-scarred 
standard,  which  might  have  been  left  to  them  a  few  months  longer, 
wdien  their  term  of  service  would  have  expired. 

Our  Division  lost  heavily  in  this  unfortunate  engagement — over 
1,700;  1,600  of  them  being  prisoners  of  war;  and  our  Regiment's 
loss  was  92  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  including  Captains 
Tyler,  Farr  and  Lieutenant  Rose  among  those  captured,  leaving 
but  one  officer.  Captain  Britenbach,  who  commanded  the  Regi- 
ment, and  twenty-eight  men,  many  of  the  latter  being  non-com- 
batants.    We  also  lost  the  four  guns  of  McKnight's  Battery. 

This  may  be  said  to  be  the  saddest  day  in  the  history  of  the 
Corps.  Nearly  three  thousand  of  its  best  men,  that  had  with- 
stood the  many  dangers  and  fatigues  of  this,  the  most  severe 
campaign  of  the  war,  now  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
through  the  blunder  of  some  one  failing  to  properly  execute  the 
orders  of  our  brave  and  efficient  commander  Hancock,  then  lying 
on  his  couch  suffering  from  wounds  that  prevented  his  presence 
and  guiding  hand.  And  then  the  loss  of  four  guns,  the  first  and 
only  guns  lost  in  action  by  that  grand  old  fighting  corps,  the 
Second,  that  had  so  successfully  followed  the  lead  of  Sumner, 
Couch,  Sedgwick,  Warren  and  Hancock.  On  whom  the  respon- 
sibility for  this  blunder  rested,  or  who  was  made  to  suft'er,  the 
writer  is  unable  to  tell ;  sufficient  to  say  that  Hancock  at  once 
assumed  command  of  the  Corps,  and  such  a  hrcese  as  was  raised 
at  his  headquarters,  when  all  the  general  officers  were  assembled 
there  by  his  orders,  the  writer  was  seldom  called  upon  to  witness 
or  hear,  being  principally  directed  against  General  Birney.  On 
June  27th  our  Division  was  withdrawn  from  the  front  and  sent 
back  towards  Prince  George  Court  House,  to  protect  the  rear 
against  the  rebel  cavalry  scouting  in  our  rear.  On  the  29th,  the 
Division  was  recalled  to  the  front,  and  placed  in  the  works,  re- 
lieving a  portion  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  who  were  sent  to  the  relief 


Sergeant  Isaac  N.  Hakvey. 
Feb.  2,  1862.  "June  30,  1865. 

Re-enlisled,  Dec.  29.  1863.     Veteran. 

Promoted  to  Corporal,  Sept.  1,  1864. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant,  March  26,  1865. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  1862. 

Mustered  out  with  Company,  June  30,  1865. 


COMPANY   K. 


Giles  R.  H.\lle:m. 
Nov.  I,  1861.  Nov.  I,  i£ 

Discharged,  Nov.  i,  1864. 


1864]  PETERSBURG  281 

of  the  cavalry,  hotly  engaged  at  the  Weldon  Railroad.  On  July 
2d,  we  moved  to  the  right,  relieving  a  brigade  of  the  First  Divi- 
sion, and  making  room  for  the  Sixth  Corps  to  occupy  their  form- 
er position  on  our  left. 

On  July  5th,  General  Gibbon  gave  a  dinner  at  his  headquarters 
to  his  brother  officers,  in  honor  of  his  promotion  to  Major-Gen- 
eral.  Generals  Meade,  Hancock,  Burnside  and  Birney,  were 
present ;  also  a  band  of  music ;  and  had  a  gay  time. 

On  July  1 2th,  the  men  were  set  to  work  leveling  the  works  to 
the  ground,  preparatory  to  another  movement  to  the  left,  which 
was  made  that  afternoon ;  and  put  into  a  new  position  at  the  cross 
roads,  near  the  Williams  House.  On  that  day,  the  Fifteenth 
Massachusetts  Regiment,  whose  term  of  service  had  expired,  left 
for  home.  On  the  13th,  made  another  move  near  to  the  White 
House.  Thus  continually  moving,  skirmishing,  and  placed  in 
such  position  as  to  keep  the  men  under  constant  strain  of  excite- 
ment, submitted  to  continual  danger,  which  rendered  the  men  al- 
most unfit  for  duty,  and  they  lost  that  enthusiasm  necessary  for 
successful  campaigning. 

Bryant,  speaking  of  the  condition  of  the  armies,  at  this  time, 
says: 

After  all  its  losses  it  (the  Confederate)  was  nearly  as  strong  as 
it  was  when  it  moved  upon  Grant  in  the  Wilderness,  foiled  him  at 
Spottsylvania,  held  him  in  check  upon  the  North  Anna,  and  defeated 
him  upon  the  Chickahominy.  The  efficiency  of  the  Federal  army 
had  in  the  meanwhile  been  greatly  impaired.  Its  numbers  had 
been  kept  up,  but  it  had  lost  well-nigh  half  of  its  best  officers  and 
men.  Not  a  few  recruits  brought  in  by  enormous  bounties,  were 
poor  material  for  soldiers.  Even  the  tried  veterans  lacked  much 
of  their  old  determination.  Now  when,  in  the  Weldon  movement, 
the  Second  Corps,  which  had  been  recognised  as  the  best  in  the 
army,  fell  back,  losing  more  in  missing  than  in  killed  and  wounded, 
it  became  clear  that  there  must  be  a  pause  for  reorganisation  and 
recuperation.     (Italics  ours.) 

General  Gibbon,  in  his  report  of  the  services  of  his  Division, 
from  May  3d,  to  July  31st,  states : 

That  when  the  Division  left  its  camp  on  May  3d,  it  consisted  of 
three  Brigades  with  6,799  officers  and  men ;  that  it  had  been  re- 
inforced by  4,263,  making  a  total  of  11,062,  divided  into  four  Bri- 


282  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

gades ;  that  it  lost  77  officers  and  971  men  killed,  202  officers  and 
3,825  men  womided ;  a  total  of  5,075.  The  Brigades  had  seventeen 
different  commanders,  of  whom  three  were  killed  and  six  womid- 
ed. Of  the  279  officers  killed  and  wounded,  forty  were  regimental 
commanders ;  that  many  of  the  bravest  and  most  efficient  officers 
and  men  were  among  those  who  fell.  The  effect  upon  the 
troops  of  the  loss  of  such  leaders  as  Tyler,  Webb,  Carroll, 
Connor,  Baxter,  McKeen,  Ramsey,  Coons,  Haskell,  Porter, 
Murphy,  McMahon,  Curry,  Macy,  Pierce,  Abbott,  Davis  Curtis, 
and  a  host  of  others,  can  be  truly  estimated  only  by  one  who  has 
witnessed  their  conduct  in  the  different  battles. 

And  Humphreys  says: 

The  names  he  mentions  are  those  of  General  officers  and  regi- 
mental commanders,  nearly  all  of  whom  I  knew  personally ;  they 
were  soldiers  in  every  meaning  of  the  word,  gallant,  skilful,  and 
full  of  zeal  and  energy. 

The  following  extracts,  from  the  private  letters  of  an  accom- 
plished officer  of  a  Connecticut  regiment,  which  were  afterwards 
published  in  his  biography,  as  he  was  subsequently  killed  in  front 
of  Richmond,  and  of  whom  his  regimental  commander  wrote, 
that 

He  was  one  of  the  brightest  ornaments  of  the  Volunteer  service. 
A  soldier  without  fear  and  without  reproach. 

will  give  a  good  idea  of  our  life  in  the  trenches  at  Petersburg. 

A  sharp  cry  at  dead  of  night,  more  than  once  gave  indication  that 
some  one  had  been  wounded  while  asleep  in  his  tent ;  and  casual- 
ties came  to  be  so  frequent  that  officers  and  men  moved  about  with 
an  ever-present  consciousness  that  they  might  fall  the  next  minute, 
and  every  nerve  was  kept  on  tension  by  this  sense  of  personal  peril, 
during  the  waking  hours — hardly  quieted  even  in  sleep,  when  the 
patter  of  bullets  gave  shape  to  troubled  dreams. 

Pickets  were  relieved  only  after  nightfall,  and  there  were  times 
when  no  man  at  the  advance  posts,  or  even  at  the  main  works, 
could  show  himself  by  daylight  save  at  the  imminent  risk  of  his 
life,  so  vigilant  and  accurate  were  the  rebel  sharpshooters. 

One  evening  the  vedettes  coming  in  when  relieved,  brought  with 
them  one  of  their  number  who  had  been  mortally  wounded  at  ten 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  He  was  still  living,  though  his  brain  was 
oozing  out  of  a  bullet  hole  through  the  head.  So  sharp  had  been  the 
fire,  so  positive  the  certainty  of  being  hit  with  the  slightest  ex- 
posure, that  it  was  impossible  to  move  him.  His  companion  would 
have  done  for  him  anything  that  man  could  do,  but  it  was  no  use 


1864]  PETERSBURG  283 

to  make  an  attempt.  Think  of  him  spending  the  day  in  that  rifle- 
pit  with  his  dying  friend,  helpless,  unable  to  lift  his  head  without 
bringing  certain  death  upon  himself ! 

One  of  our  men  this  morning,  had  his  hair  lifted  by  a  bullet, 
fired,  like  many  others,  through  one  of  the  apertures  of  the  para- 
pet ;  another's  face  was  grazed.     As  Colonel  and  I,  were 

standing  close  to  the  parapet,  a  bullet  struck  it  just  in  front  of  us, 
so  near  the  top  as  to  throw  the  dirt  over  tis.  As  I  was  coming 
up  the  hill  towards  our  bomb-proof,  another  passed  before  my  face 
so  close,  that  I  involuntarily  threw  back  my  head,  feeling  the  wind 
of  it. 

Speaking  of  the  mortars  he  says : 

Mortar  shelling  at  night  is  a  beautiful  sight.  The  burning  fuse 
of  each  projectile  marks  its  course  for  the  whole  distance  of  its 
flight.  It  rises  like  a  rocket,  sometimes  a  mile  above  the  earth,  at 
the  highest  point  of  its  enormous  curve,  and  descending  one  would 
think  at  a  distance,  as  gently  as  a  snow  flake;  but  it  strikes  the 
earth  with  a  concusssion  which  shakes  the  ground  for  many  yards 
on  every  side,  and  explodes  with  a  report  like  that  of  the  mortar 
from  which  it  came.  One  man  who  was  killed,  was  sitting  near 
the  breastworks  watching  the  shells.  One  came  directly  towards 
him ;  those  who  stood  near  scattered,  and  called  to  him  to  hurry 
away ;  but  he  gazed  at  it  as  if  fascinated ;  a  moment  more,  and  the 
shell  tore  him  to  fragments. 

The  strain  of  excitement  and  of  anxiety,  the  wear  and  tear  of 
such  work  as  ours  began  to  tell  upon  me.  Not  that  I  am  breaking 
down  under  it,  or  ready  to  abandon  the  task  which  must  be  ac- 
complished, but  I  am  beginning  to  long  for  the  end  on  personal  as 
well  as  patriotic  grounds. 

General  Humphreys  thus  describes  the  effect  of  that  continual 
marching,  fighting  and  exposure : 

The  incessant  movements,  day  and  night,  for  so  long  a  period, 
the  constant  close  contact  with  the  enemy  during  all  that  time,  the 
almost  daily  assaults  upon  entrenchments  having  entanglements  in 
front,  and  defended  by  artillery  and  musketry  in  front  and  flank, 
exhausted  officers  and  men.  The  larger  part  of  the  officers,  who 
literally  led  their  commands,  were  killed  or  wounded,  and  a  large 
number  of  those  that  filled  the  ranks  at  the  beginning  of  the 
campaign  were  absent. 

This  well  describes  the  experiences  and  feelings  of  our  Brigade 
not  only  at  Petersburg,  but  equally  as  well  at  Cold  Harbor,  North 
Anna  and  Spottsylvania,  and  there  was  need  of  a  rest  and  re- 
cuperation. 


284  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

HOME    AGAIN. 

AN  order  was  issued  that  regiments  having  only  about  thirty 
days  to  serve,  were  to  be  reHeved  from  the  front,  and  sent 
to  garrison  the  fortifications  around  Washington,  for  the 
balance  of  their  time.  In  accordance  with  that  order,  our  Regi- 
ment and  the  Seventy-Second,  received  orders  on  July  20th  to 
proceed  at  once  to  Washington  to  report  to  General  Halleck. 
Companies  F,  H  and  K,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Penn- 
sylvania, were  organized  into  a  Battalion,  to  be  known  as  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  Battalion,  Pennsylvania  Veteran  Volunteers, 
and  all  the  re-enlisted  men  and  the  recruits  that  had  recently  join- 
ed the  Regiment,  and  those  whose  time  did  not  expire  for  a  few 
months,  were  transferred  to  these  three  companies,  and  the  Bat- 
talion assigned  for  field  service,  to  the  Sixty-Ninth  Pennsylvania, 
then  under  the  command  of  Colonel  William  Davis.  And  the 
re-enlisted  men  and  recruits  of  the  Seventy-Second  Regiment, 
were  transferred  to  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-Third  Penn- 
sylvania, now  commanded  by  Colonel  James  C.  Lynch,  who  had 
been  recently  promoted  from  Captain  of  Company  B,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixth  Pennsylvania,  for  gallant  and  efficient  services, 
while  serving  on  the  staff  of  General  Gibbon. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  July  21st,  the  two  regiments  bade 
farewell  to  their  comrades,  Petersburg,  and  the  surroundings 
of  active  field  service,  and  marched  to  City  Point,  where  they 
were  placed  on  transports,  and  in  the  afternoon  started  down  the 
river,  and  after  three  days'  journey  down  the  James  river,  around 
Fort  Monroe,  and  up  the  Chesapeake  Bay  and  Potomac  river, 
arrived  at  Washington,  D.  C,  on  the  24th,  and  were  assigned  to 
General  De  Russey's  Division  and  sent  to  Arlington  Heights  for 
guard  and  picket  duty. 

Here  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Pennsylvania  remained  until 
August  28th,   receiving  additions   from  hospitals  of  those  con- 


1864]  HOME   AGAIN  285 

valescent  from  wounds  or  sickness,  when  we  left  for  home; 
marched  over  the  Long  Bridge  to  Washington,  thence  to  the 
"Soldiers'  Retreat",  where  we  remained  until  5  o'clock,  receiving 
our  dinner  and  supper ;  boarded  the  train,  and  at  6  o'clock-  moved 
out  on  the  track  a  short  distance,  and  after  dark  started  for  Phil- 
adelphia ;  arrived  at  Baltimore  about  10  o'clock,  formed  and 
marched  to  the  Philadelphia  Depot  via  Pratt  and  President  Streets, 
and  at  half  past  1 1  o'clock  started  north ;  about  6  o'clock  the  next 
morning  arrived  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  and  at  8  o'clock  steamed 
into  the  depot  at  Philadelphia.  We  were  marched  to  the  Cooper- 
shop  Refreshment  Saloon,  where  we  cleaned  up  and  sat  down  to 
breakfast.  This  was  the  first  full  and  decent  meal  that  was  ever 
served  to  us,  during  our  whole  three  years'  service,  and  we  ap- 
preciated it  and  did  it  full  justice.  God  bless  the  noble-hearted 
men  and  women  who  gave  their  time  and  their  means,  and  labor- 
ed so  hard,  and  treated  our  comrades  so  well.  Their  praise  has 
been  sung  throughout  our  whole  land.  Go  where  you  will  and 
tell  an  old  soldier  that  you  are  from  Philadelphia,  and  he  will 
shake  you  by  the  hand  and  say,  "I  remember  that  good  city,  and 
how  they  fed  and  treated  us,  as  we  passed  through  during  the  war, 
or  attended  us  when  in  the  hospitals.  It  was  the  only  city  that 
treated  us  like  men". 

In  the  afternoon,  we  were  escorted  through  the  streets  of  the 
city  by  the  Seventy-Second  Regiment,  who  returned  home  August 
nth,  and  the  "Henry  Guards".  We  were  then  dismissed,  with 
orders  to  hold  ourselves  in  readiness  to  report  for  muster  out  and 
pay.  After  many  delays,  we  were  finally  mustered  out  of  the 
United  States'  service  September  loth,  1864,  and  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixth  Pennsylvania  became  one  of  the  things  of  the 
past ;  leaving  behind  it  a  record  to  be  proud  of,  and  unsurpassed. 


286  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

ONE    HUNDRED    AND    SIXTH    BATTALION. 

THE  writer  having  been  mustered  out  with  the  Regiment,  and 
therefore  leaving  the  front  with  it  on  July  20th,  1864, 
cannot  from  personal  observation  give  an  account  of  the 
services  of  the  Battalion,  from  that  time  until  the  war  closed  and 
their  final  muster  out  on  June  30,  1865.  Some  few  of  the  facts 
herein  presented  were  obtained  from  private  letters  from  those 
who  remained  with  the  Battalion.  As  it  is  impossible  to  give  all 
the  movements  of  so  small  a  body  of  troops,  the  writer  will 
merely  give  a  brief  outline  of  the  movements  of  the  Division 
to  which  it  was  attached,  for  which  he  is  mostly  indebted  to  Gen- 
eral Humphreys'  book,  "The  Virginia  Campaign  of  1864  and 
1865",  as  the  Battalion  accompanied  it  in  all  its  movements  and 
participated  with  it  in  all  its  engagements. 

As  has  been  stated  the  three  Companies,  F,  H  and  K,  were  con- 
solidated into  a  Battalion,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Frank 
Wessels,  but  he  being  on  staff  duty,  Lieutenant  John  Irwin  was 
placed  in  command,  and  assigned  for  field  service,  to  the  Sixty- 
Ninth  Pennsylvania,  commanded  by  Colonel  William  Davis,  and 
constituted  part  of  the  Third  Brigade  of  the  Second  Division  of 
the  Second  Corps,  and  participated  in  all  the  marches  and  actions 
of  that  Division  until  the  close  of  the  Rebellion. 

Before  daylight  on  July  27th,  the  Corps  crossed  the  James 
river  on  the  lower  pontoon  bridge  at  Deep  Bottom,  followed  by 
the  cavalry,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  direct  attack  on  Rich- 
mond, if  a  sudden  dash  of  the  cavalry  could  demonstrate  it  was 
practicable.  As  soon  as  it  was  light,  an  assault  was  made  on  the 
enemy's  advance  lines  at  Bailey's  Creek  by  Barlow's  Division 
(First),  and  the  works  carried  by  a  Brigade  commanded  by  Col- 
onel James  C.  Lynch  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty-Third 
Pennsylvania,  fomerly  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth,  capturing 


1864]  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  BATTALION  287 

a  four-gun  battery  of  20-pounder  Parrott  on  the  New  Market 
road.  The  whole  Hne  was  actively  engaged  during  the  day ;  but 
the  cavalry  on  the  right  were  so  overpowered  by  the  large  force 
of  infantry  thrown  against  them,  that  they  were  thrown  back, 
so  that  no  other  advantage  was  gained,  and  that  night  Mott's 
Division  recrossed,  and  the  next  night,  July  29th,  the  remainder 
of  the  Corps  and  Cavalry  recrossed,  and  was  placed  in  position 
on  the  right  of  Burnside's  Corps  (near  the  position  first  occupied 
by  the  Second  Division  upon  its  first  arrival  in  front  of  Peters- 
burg on  the  night  of  June  15th),  as  support  to  them  upon  the 
explosion  of  the  mine,  which  was  to  take  place  at  daylight  the 
next  morning. 

The  mine  was  built  upon  the  proposition  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Pleasants,  commanding  the  Forty-Eighth  Pennsylvania,  a  regi- 
ment composed  chiefly  of  miners  from  Schuylkill  County,  Pa., 
Colonel  Pleasants  being  a  skillful  and  experienced  mining  engin- 
eer. It  consisted  of  a  "main  gallery  511  feet  long,  and  two 
lateral  galleries,  37  and  38  feet.  There  were  eight  magazines, 
each  of  which  was  charged  with  one  thousand  pounds  of  powder". 
The  work  was  commenced  the  latter  part  of  June  and  finished 
ready  for  charging  by  July  23d. 

About  half-past  four  in  the  morning  of  July  30th,  the  mine 
was  exploded  and  Burnside  advanced  one  of  his  Divisions,  under 
General  Ledlie,  but  their  failure  to  properly  execute  the  orders 
given  them,  resulted  in  very  little  good,  as  by  the  time  they  made 
the  assault,  which  was  very  poorly  attempted,  the  enemy  had  re- 
covered from  their  surprise  and  alarm,  and  hurried  reinforce- 
ments forward  and  repulsed  all  attempts  to  carry  their  lines.  So 
apparent  was  the  failure  to  execute  the  orders  given  them  by 
General  Meade,  that  a  Court  of  Inquiry  was  held,  and  General 
Burnside,  his  two  Division  commanders.  Generals  Ledlie  and 
Ferrero,  and  Colonel  Z.  R.  Bliss,  commanding  Brigade,  were 
severely  censured,  and  General  Wilcox,  commanding  the  remain- 
ing Division,  for  lack  of  energy.  On  these  accounts,  instead  of 
the  mine  proving  a  great  benefit  by  which  great  results  could  be 
accomplished,  it  was  a  hopeless  failure,  incurring  a  loss  of  4,500 
men,  of  whom  about  400  were  killed,  in  addition  to  the  expense 
and  labor  of  constructing-  it. 


288  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

That  night  the  Second  Division  was  moved  to  the  left,  back  to 
the  same  position  it  held  when  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  parted 
from  it. 

Grant  was  determined  on  another  attack  on  Richmond  from 
the  north  side  of  the  James,  and  on  August  13th,  the  Second  Corps, 
two  divisions  of  the  Tenth  Corps,  under  General  Birney,  and  a 
division  of  cavalry,  under  Gregg,  the  whole  under  General  Han- 
cock, marched  to  City  Point  and  took  transports,  and  on  the  14th 
steamed  down  the  river ;  but  this  was  only  a  deception,  for  as  soon 
as  it  was  dark  they  turned  around  and  steamed  up  the  river,  and 
landed  at  Deep  Bottom  about  daylight.  Line  was  soon  formed, 
the  Tenth  Corps  on  the  right.  After  considerable  skirmishing, 
strenuous  efforts  were  made  to  carry  the  entrenchments,  but  with- 
out success,  first  by  Birney,  on  the  right,  and  then  by  two  brigades 
of  Barlow's  Division ;  and  about  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  an- 
other attempt  was  made  by  the  First  Brigade  of  the  Second  Divi- 
sion, but  with  no  better  success,  owing  principally  to  the  depth 
of  Bailey's  Creek,  which  at  that  point,  near  Fussel's  Mills,  was 
about  twenty  yards  wide,  and  so  deep  that  some  of  the  men  were 
drowned  in  their  attempt  to  cross. 

On  the  i6th,  Birney  made  another  attempt, and  advanced  Terry's 
Division  of  his  Corps,  a  Brigade  of  Mott's  Division  and  a  Brigade 
of  colored  troops,  and  succeeded  in  carrying  the  works,  capturing 
about  300  prisoners  and  three  colors,  but  could  not  hold  the 
works  and  retired.  Hancock  was  kept  on  the  north  side  of  the 
James  until  the  night  of  the  20th,  making  no  further  assaults,  but 
subjected  to  heavy  skirmishing  all  the  time ;  then  returned  to  his 
former  position,  near  Petersburg,  having  lost  321  killed,  1840 
wounded,  and  625  missing;  total,  2,786.  Among  those  wounded 
of  the  Second  Division,  was  Colonel  Macy,  of  the  Twentieth 
Massachusetts,  commanding  the  First  Brigade. 

Marching  all  night  of  the  20th,  the  Divisions  of  Barlow  and 
Smyth,  First  and  Second,  arrived  in  camp  early  on  the  morning 
of  the  2 1st,  with  only  a  few  hours  rest  moved  on  to  the  Strong 
House,  west  of  the  Jerusalem  road,  and  in  the  afternoon  again 
moved  still  further  to  the  left,  to  the  Gurley  House,  to  support 
General  Warren  on  the  Weldon  Railroad.  This  march  was  very 
hard  on  the  men.     Hancock  says : 


1S64]  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  BATTALION  289 

It  was  one  of  the  most  fatiguing  and  difficult  performed  by  the 
troops  during  the  campaign,  owing  to  the  wretched  condition  of 
the  roads. 

To  Hancock  was  assigned  the  task  of  destroying  the  Weldon 
Railroad  as  far  south  as  Rowanty  Creek,  and  he  at  once  com- 
menced. By  the  23d  he  had  got  as  far  as  Ream's  Station,  and  at 
night  of  the  24th,  three  miles  further  to  Malone's  cross  roads. 
By  this  time,  Lee  thought  it  was  about  time  to  put  a  stop  to  the 
destruction  of  this  important  line  of  supply  for  his  forces  at 
Petersburg,  and  at  once  sent  A.  P.  Hill  with  about  10,000  men  to 
resist,  and  on  the  afternoon  of  the  25th,  Hill  attacked  Hancock, 
who  learning  of  Hill's  advance,  had  returned  to  Ream's  Station, 
and  occupied  the  hastily  constructed  works,  extending  across  the 
railroad  in  the  shape  of  a  horseshoe ;  the  assault  was  directed 
against  this  part  of  the  line  occupied  by  Miles,  who  then  com- 
manded the  First  Division,  which  occupied  the  right  of  the  line, 
and  that  portion  which  extended  across  the  railroad ;  this  part  of 
his  line  giving  way,  the  Rebels  secured  the  works  and  nine  guns, 
and  crossing  the  railroad,  captured  the  balance  of  Miles'  works 
and  McKnight's  Battery.  General  Gibbon  had  returned  and 
assumed  command  of  the  Second  Division,  which  occupied  the 
left  of  the  line  of  works,  and  they  were  obliged  to  change  front 
and  occupy  the  reverse  side  of  their  works.  Things  at  that 
time  looked  critical,  when  Colonel  James  C.  Lynch,  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Eighty-Third  Pennsylvania,  who  commanded  a 
Brigade  of  Miles'  Division,  rallied  a  portion  of  his  command, 
charged  and  recaptured  most  of  his  line  and  McKnight's  Battery. 
Gibbon  was  then  attacked  and  driven  from  his  position,  so  that 
Hancock  was  compelled  to  withdraw  his  whole  command  back 
to  another  position,  on  the  road  running  to  the  Jerusalem  Plank 
road,  and  there  he  resisted  all  the  efforts  of  the  enemy  to  dis- 
lodge him,  and  the  contest  ended.  This  was  the  worst  defeat 
ever  experienced  by  the  gallant  Second  Corps,  and  Hancock  at- 
tributes it: 

Principally  to  their  great  fatigue  and  to  their  heavy  losses  dur- 
ing the  campaign,  especially  in  officers,  and  then  several  of  the 
regiments  were  largely  made  up  of  recruits  and  substitutes. 


290  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

His  losses  were  600  killed  and  wounded,  and  1,762  missing;  total 
2,372,  nine  guns  and  several  colors. 

Owing  to  the  absence,  on  account  of  wounds  and  sickness,  of 
large  numbers  of  those  who  had  entered  the  service  in  the  early 
part  of  the  war,  these  raw  recruits  in  some  cases  formed  a  large 
majority  of  those  present  for  duty  in  old  regiments  of  high  reputa- 
tion, and  sometimes  completely  changed  their  character  tempor- 
arily, and  not  only  the  character  of  regiments,  but  even  of  brigades 
and  divisions.  The  large  bounties  paid  volunteers  and  substitutes, 
amounting  in  some  places,  to  a  thousand  dollars  or  more,  had  a 
very  injurious  effect  upon  the  army,  for  it  brought  to  its  ranks  many 
men  who  were  actuated  by  very  different  motives  from  those  that 
had  influenced  the  men  who  had  voluntarily  filled  the  ranks  before, 
and  the  veterans  that  now  re-enlisted. 

Among  those  wounded,  was  Colonel  William  Davis,  command- 
ing the  Sixty-Ninth  Pennsylvania,  to  which  was  assigned  the  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  Battalion.  He  also  had  his  horse  shot  from 
under  him. 

The  troops  were  then  set  to  work  entrenching  the  new  line 
front  and  rear,  occupying  all  of  September  and  part  of  October. 

On  October  25th,  another  advance  on  L6e's  right  flank  was  com- 
menced. Gibbon's  Division,  then  commanded  by  General  Egan, 
moved  on  the  26th  to  the  left,  in  rear  of  the  entrenchments,  to 
the  Weldon  Railroad,  and  on  the  27th  reached  Hatcher's  Run, 
at  daylight.  Soon  after,  the  Third  Brigade,  commanded  by  Gen- 
eral Smyth,  to  which  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Battalion  was 
attached,  waded  the  run  waist  deep,  charged  the  enemy's  works, 
and  carried  them,  then  continued  on  past  Dabney's  Mills,  and 
struck  the  Boydton  Plank  road,  near  Burgess'  Tavern,  and  en- 
countered the  enemy  on  the  White  Oak  road.  Smyth's  Brigade 
again  drove  the  enemy  back,  along  the  Boydton  road,  across  Hat- 
cher's Run ;  there  the  Division  was  put  into  position  on  each  side 
of  the  road,  ready  for  action.  Soon  the  Division  was  advanced, 
carried  the  bridge  across  the  run,  captured  a  gun,  and  were  press- 
ing on  to  the  heights  beyond,  when  Malione  in  force,  attacked 
Hancock's  right  flank,  and  drove  them  back.  Egan  halted  his 
advance,  changed  front,  and  with  his  entire  command,  fell  upon 
Mahone  and  drove  him  with  heavy  loss,  and  in  confusion,  from 
his  position,  capturing  two  colors  and  a  number  of  prisoners,  and 


1865]  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  BATTALION  291 

recaptured  the  two  guns  that  Mahone  had  taken  a  short  time  be- 
fore. After  a  brisk  attack  on  Hancock's  left,  night  put  an  end 
to  the  contest,  and  during  the  night  Hancock  withdrew  to  his 
former  position,  across  the  Weldon  Railroad,  and  for  want  of 
ambulances,  was  compelled  to  leave  about  250  wounded  behind, 
at  the  Rainey  House,  detailing  surgeons  to  look  after  their  needs. 
His  loss  was,  123  killed,  734  wounded  and  625  missing;  total,. 
1481.  This  was  the  last  engagement  of  the  Corps  that  year,  and 
they  went  into  winter  quarters  in  the  entrenchments,  west  of  the 
Weldon  Railroad. 

Early  in  February,  1865,  with  Major  General  A.  A.  Hum- 
phreys in  command  of  the  Corps,  and  Brigadier  General  Thomas 
A.  Smyth  commanding  the  Division,  moved  to  support  the  move- 
ment of  the  cavalry  to  the  left,  to  intercept  the  supply  trains  of 
the  enemy,  and  were  put  into  position  at  the  crossing  of  Hatch- 
er's Run,  by  the  Vaughan  road,  and  at  Armstrong's  Mills,  about 
a  mile  further  up  the  Run.  Smyth's  Division  being  at  the  latter 
place.  On  February  5th,  about  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of 
that  day,  the  enemy  attacked  Smyth,  but  was  soon  repulsed,  and 
sent  in  haste  back  to  their  line.  Continual  picket  firing  and  skir- 
mishing, but  no  advance  was  made  by  either  side,  until  March 
25th,  when  General  Humphreys  learning  of  the  attack  on  Fort 
Steadman,  made  a  counter  attack  on  the  works  in  his  front,  and 
carried  their  entrenched  picket  lines  and  resisted  all  the  enemy's 
efforts  to  retake  them.  This  proved  a  valuable  point  gained  for 
the  subsequent  movements. 

On  the  night  of  March  28th,  General  Ord,  who  had  been  placed 
in  command  of  the  Army  of  the  James,  arrived  in  rear  of  the  posi- 
tion held  by  the  Second  Corps,  with  his  army  secretly  withdrawn 
from  the  extreme  right ;  a  part  of  which,  consisted  of  the  new 
Corps,  the  Twenty- Fourth,  to  the  command  of  which  Major- 
General  John  Gibbon,  who  had  so  long  commanded  the  Second 
Division  of  the  Second  Corps,  was  assigned. 

The  next  morning  the  Second  Corps  advanced  across  Hatcher's 
Run  by  the  Vaughan  road  until  connecting  with  the  Fifth  Corps 
on  the  left.  On  the  30th  we  continued  to  advance,  driving  in 
the  enemy's  skirmishers,  back  to  the  Boydton  Plank  road,  and 
before  daylight  on  the  31st,  the   First  Division  under  General 


292  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

Miles  was  advanced,  and  relieved  Griffin's  Division  of  the  Fifth 
Corps,  near  the  White  Oak  road.  During  the  day,  Warren's 
Corps,  the  Fifth,  were  forced  back  by  the  enemy  from  their  posi- 
tion on  the  White  Oak  road,  across  a  creek,  a  branch  of  Gravelly 
Run,  near  to  the  position  to  which  Miles'  Division  had  been  ad- 
vanced. Humphreys  then  advanced  his  whole  Corps  to  support 
Warren.  ]\Iiles  succeeded  in  turning  the  enemy's  left,  and  War- 
ren soon  after  regained  his  lost  ground.  The  assault  of  the  other 
two  Divisions  of  Humphrey's  Corps,  the  Second,  upon  the  works 
in  their  front  on  the  Boydton  road,  and  near  the  Crow  House, 
was  not  successful. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  April  ist.  General  Sheridan  having 
been  successful  at  Five  Forks,  General  Humphreys  was  ordered 
to  feel  the  enemy  in  his  front,  and  if  a  weak  point  was  found, 
to  assault.  He  opened  a  heavy  artillery  fire  upon  their  works, 
and  Miles'  and  Mott's  Divisions  were  advanced,  but  only  succeed- 
ed in  driving  in  the  enemy's  pickets.  The  artillery  fire  was, 
however,  kept  up  until  night. 

At  daylight  on  the  2d,  General  Wright  with  his  Corps,  the 
Sixth,  assaulted  the  works  in  front  of  Forts  Fisher  and  Welsh 
and  carried  them,  driving  the  enemy  back  across  the  Boydton 
road,  to  the  South  Side  Railroad.  General  Gibbon  then  advanced 
his  Corps,  the  Twenty-Fourth,  towards  the  Whitworth  House. 
General  Humphreys  was  then  directed  to  assault  the  works  in  his 
front,  and  General  Hays,  who  then  commanded  the  Second  Divi- 
sion, charged  and  captured  the  redoubts  at  the  Court  House,  and 
later  Mott's  Division  captured  those  near  Burgess'  Mill.  Con- 
tinuing the  advance  through  the  night.  Miles'  Division  came  upon 
the  retreating  enemy  near  Sutherland  Station  on  the  South  Side 
Railroad,  and  attacked  them  in  their  hastily  constructed  works,  and 
after  two  repulses,  succeeded  in  turning  their  right  flank  and  forc- 
ing them  from  their  position  in  great  confusion ;  captured  100 
prisoners,  one  color  and  ten  guns.  General  Gibbon  had  assaulted 
with  his  Corps  Forts  Gregg  and  Whitworth,  and  after  some  fight- 
ing carried  them  both,  capturing  a  number  of  prisoners. 

General  Lee.  finding  himself  unable  to  maintain  his  positions 
at  Richmond  and  Petersburg,  decided  at  once  to  abandon  them, 
which  he  did  on  the  night  of  April  2d,  so  that  early  on  the  morn- 


1865]  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  BATTALION  293 

ing  of  the  3d,  General  Wilcox  took  possession  of  Petersburg,  and 
at  8  o'clock  General  Weitzel  took  possession  of  Richmond. 

Early  on  the  3d,  Humphrey's  Corps,  the  Second,  pushed  for- 
ward after  the  retreating  enemy,  following  up  Sheridan  towards 
Amelia  Court  House,  where  it  was  found  Lee  was  concentrating. 
About  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  April  5th,  arrived  at  Jeters- 
ville,  about  eight  miles  south  of  Amelia  Court  House,  and  was  put 
into  position  on  the  left  of  the  Fifth  Corps.  Large  working 
parties  of  the  Corps  were  at  work  on  the  roads  during  the  3d,  4th, 
and  5th,  as  they  were  almost  impassable  for  wagons,  owing  to  the 
heavy  rains. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  the  advance  was  continued; 
after  travelling  about  four  miles,  General  Humphreys  discovered 
the  enemy  moving  in  columns  westward,  north  of  Flat  Creek. 
Miles  opened  upon  them  with  his  artillery,  and  soon  after  General 
Meade  directed  Humphreys  to  cross  the  creek,  which  the  men  did 
by  wading  up  to  their  armpits,  and  for  nearly  fifteen  miles  a 
running  fight  was  kept  up  with  the  rear  guard  of  Lee's  army, 
carrying  several  partially  entrenched  positions,  and  at  6  o'clock 
had  a  sharp  engagement  at  Sailor's  Creek,  again  drove  them, 
capturing  thirteen  flags,  three  guns,  and  several  hundred  pris- 
oners, crossing  the  creek  and  forcing  them  from  their  selected 
position  ;  until  night  put  a  stop  to  further  pursuit.  The  Corps 
captured  that  day,  thirteen  flags,  four  guns,  and  1,700  prisoners, 
and  suffered  a  loss  of  311,  including  General  Mott  wounded. 
General  Barlow  again  reported  for  duty  and  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  Second  Division. 

That  same  day  the  Sixth  Corps  assaulted  the  position  held  by 
Ewell,  carried  it,  captured  General  Ewell  and  his  entire  command, 
including  five  other  General  officers,  so  that  he  lost  that  day,  by 
the  assaults  of  the  Second  and  Sixth  Corps,  about  8,000  men. 

At  half  past  five  on  the  7th,  the  pursuit  was  continued.  Upon 
arriving  at  High  Bridge,  Barlow,  who  was  in  the  advance,  pushed 
forward  at  double-qviick,  and  secured  the  wagon  road  bridge, 
driving  back  the  enemy  there  found,  who  returned  reinforced,  and 
endeavored  to  drive  back  Barlow  and  destroy  the  bridge.  This 
they  were  unable  to  do,  and  the  whole  Second  Corps  crossed.  Hum- 
phreys then  moved,  with  the  First  and  Third  Divisions,  towards 


294  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT  [1864 

Lynchburg  and  sent  Barlow  on  to  Farmville,  where  the  enemy 
were  found  in  large  force.  Barlow  again  attacked,  cut  off  a 
number  of  wagons  and  burned  them,  but  lost  General  Thomas  A. 
Smyth,  commanding  the  Third  Brigade,  to  which  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Sixth  Battalion  was  attached,  he  being  severely  wounded. 
Humphreys  came  up  with  Lee's  entire  force  near  Lynchburg, 
and  expecting  the  co-operation  of  the  Sixth  and  Twenty-Fourth 
Corps  on  the  right  at  Farmville,  as  per  arrangements,  attacked  in 
force  but  Avas  repulsed ;  then  remained  quiet  until  night.  General 
Humphreys  speaks  of  his  Corps  that  day  and  says : 

Nothing  could  have  been  finer  than  the  spirit  and  promptness 
of  the  men  ;  all  the  commanding  officers  were  at  the  head  of  their 
commands,  literally  leading  them. 

It  was  then  that  the  first  letter  from  General  Grant  to  General 
Lee,  asking  for  his  surrender,  passed  through  the  lines  of  the 
Second  Corps ;  the  reply  from  General  Lee  was  received  the  same 
night. 

At  half  past  five  on  the  8th,  the  pursuit  was  continued  by  the 
Second  Corps,  followed  by  the  Sixth,  and  while  on  the  march, 
Grant's  second  letter  was  sent  to  Lee  through  General  Hum- 
phreys, and  at  dark  Lee's  reply  received.  They  marched  that  day 
about  twenty  miles.  After  a  few  hours  rest  the  march  was  con- 
tinued, and  six  more  miles  made ;  when  about  midnight  halted 
until  morning. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  General  Humphreys  sent  an- 
other letter  of  Grant's  to  Lee,  and  at  half  past  ten  continued  his 
advance,  when  he  received  two  verbal  requests  from  General  Lee, 
asking  that  further  operations  be  suspended,  as  negotiations  were 
going  forward  for  a  surrender.  Humphreys  replied  he  could 
not  comply  with  those  requests,  as  he  had  received  no  such  author- 
ity from  either  General  Meade  or  General  Grant,  and  continued 
to  press  forward,  and  at  11  o'clock  came  upon  Longstreet's  com- 
mand, entrenched  in  the  vicinity  of  Appomattox  Court  House, 
and  formed  for  the  attack,  the  Sixth  Corps  on  his  right ;  when 
just  as  they  were  about  to  begin  the  assault.  General  Meade  ar- 
rived and  suspended  operations,  and  granted  General  Lee  a  truce, 
for  an  hour,  in  view  of  the  negotiations  for  a  surrender,  which 


1865]  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  BATTALION  295 

was  consummated  that  day.  Generals  Grant  and  Lee  met  about 
I  o'clock.  The  preliminaries  were  completed,  and  at  4  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  of  April  9,  1865,  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia 
formally  surrendered  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The  follow- 
ing is  the  number  of  officers  and  men,  who  were  paroled  not  to 
again  take  up  arms  against  the  United  States,  until  regularly  ex- 
changed : 

OMcers.  Men.  Total. 

General   Lee   and   Staff....           15                       15 

Infantry     2,235  20,085  22,320 

Cavalry    132  1,654  1786 

Artillery    192  2,394  2,586 

Detachments     288  1,361  1,646 

2,862  25,494  28,356 

On  April  25th,  General  Johnston's  army  surrendered  and  the 
other  armies  soon  followed,  and  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  was 
ended. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  marched  to  Washington,  where 
they  were  reviewed  by  President  Johnson,  and  soon  after  mustered 
out  of  the  service.  The  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Battalion  being 
mustered  out  June  30th,  1865. 


_     Sunt** 


vVLB» 


<"  ^ur  (!;innmaniWrxV,  ) 


DESIGNED  BY  JOS.  R.   C.  WARD. 

PICTORIAL    HISTOkV   OF   PHILADELPHIA    BRIGADE. 
Four  Brigade  Commanders  Three  Corps  Commanders. 


COPYRIGHTED. 


Three  Division  Commanders. 


Four  Array  Commanders. 


ROSTER 


OF  THE 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 

PENNSYLVANIA  VOLUNTEERS 


The  following  roster  of  the  Regiment  has  been  prepared  with 
much  care,  and  is  as  free  from  error  as  was  possible  under  the 
circumstances.  The  roster  in  Bates'  History  of  Pennsylvania 
Volunteers  was  found  to  be  very  imperfect,  (nearly  two  hundred 
names  being  omitted,  including  many  vv^ho  died  or  were  killed 
in  action,  while  not  one-fourth  of  the  wounded  were  so  marked.) 

After  exhausting  the  records  at  Harrisburg,  application  was 
made  to  the  War  Department  at  Washington,  D.  C.  This  re- 
sulted in  no  better  success,  for  the  Assistant  Adjutant-General, 
U.  S.  A.,  declared  "The  records  of  this  office  were  not  furnished 
for  historical  purposes". 

The  only  resource  left  was  continued  correspondence  with  mem- 
bers of  the  Regiment  and  constant  comparison  and  revision. 
Nearly  ten  3^ears  have  been  devoted  to  this  labor,  and  the  follow- 
ing is  the  result.  Few  deficiencies  may  still  exist,  but  these 
cannot,  at  this  date,  be  supplied.  Some  who  were  wounded  in 
different  engagements  were  never  so  reported,  and  hence  are 
not  so  credited  in  this  roster. 

The  compiler  asks  the  kind  indulgence  of  his  comrades,  and 
submits  this  roster  as  being  as  nearly  correct  as  is  now  possible 
to  be  made. 


298 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


FIELD  AND   STAFF. 

Corrected  from  copy  of  original  muster-out  roll  kindly  loaned  by  Adjutant  John  A.  Steel. 


Name  and  Rank. 


Colonel. 
Turner  G.  Morehead, 

William   L.   Curry, 


Lieutenant-Colonel. 
William  L.  Curry, 
John  J.  Sperry, 


Major. 
John  H.   Stover, 
John  J.  Sperry, 

John  R.   Breitenbach, 


Adjutants. 
Ferdinand  M.  Pleis, 


John  A.  Steel, 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.   28, 1 861, 
Nov.    16,  " 


Quartermasters. 
Harry  S.  Camhlos, 
Wyndham  H.    Stokes, 


Surgeon. 
Justin   Dwindle, 


Aug.      8,    " 


Nov.      5, 
Aug.      8, 

"       27. 


"      28, 


28 
28 


Sept.      I, 


Remarks. 


Discharged  by  Special  Order  Apr.  5,  '64. 
Appointed  to  Brigadier  General  Mar.  15,  '65. 
As  Lieutenant-Colonel. 
Captured  at  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  June  9,  '62. 
Prisoner  from  June  9.  '62  to  Sept.  4,  '62. 
Promoted  to  Colonel  April  5,  '64.   Not  must'd. 
Wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  11,  '64. 
Died    at    Washington,    D.    C,    July    7,    '64. 

Wounds. 
Buried  in  South  Laurel  Hill  Cemetery,  Phila. 

Promoted  to  Colonel  April  5,  '64.    Not  must'd. 
As  Captain  Company  A. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  July  3,  '63. 
Promoted  to  Major  April  5,  '64.    Not  must'd. 
Promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  July  8,  '64. 

Not    mustered. 
Mustered  out  with  Regiment  Sept.  10,  '64. 

Promoted  to  Colonel  184th  Penna.  Apr.  4,  '64. 
Promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  July  8,  '64. 

Not  mustered. 
As  Captain   Company  G. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg  July  2,  '63. 
Promoted  to  Major  July  8,  '64.     Not  must'd. 
Mustered  out  with  Regiment  Sept.   10,  '64. 

Wounded   at  Gettysburg  July  2,   '63. 

Died  at  Philadelphia  Aug.  2,  '63.     Wounds. 

Buried  at  Monument  Cemetery,  Philadelphia. 

As  2d  Lieutenant  Company  C. 

Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  Co.  B  Sept.  17,  '62. 

Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.   17,  '62. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 

Promoted  to  Adjutant  Aug.  15,  '63. 

Acting  Asst.  Adj.  Gen.  2d  Brigade,  2d  Div. 

Wounded  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  18,  '64. 

Mustered  out  with  Regiment  Sept.  10,  '64. 

Discharged  June  30,  '62.     Resignation. 
As  1st  Lieutenant  Company  E. 
Promoted  to  Quartermaster  June  30,  '62. 
Mustered  out  with  Regiment  Sept.  10,  '64. 

Mustered  out  with  Regiment  Sept.   10,  '64. 


FIELD  AND  STAFF 


299 


date    of 

Name  and  Rank. 

ENLISTMENT. 

Assistant  Surgeons. 
Philip  Leidy, 
Hugh   Alexander, 

Nov. 

Aug. 

I,  1861, 
4,  1862, 

Erasmus  D.  Gates, 

Sept. 

13,  " 

Henry   D.    McLean, 

Nov. 

5,  " 

Chaplain. 
William   C.    Harris, 

Nov. 

I,  1861 

Sergeant   Majors. 
Theodore    Wharton, 

Aug. 

28,  " 

James   C.   Biggs, 

Sept. 

17,   " 

William   A.   Hagy, 

" 

24,    " 

James  D.  Tyler, 

Aug. 

26,    " 

William  H.  Neiler, 

Sept. 

2,   " 

Quartermaster  Sergts. 
Samuel  L.  Hibbs, 

Aug. 

28,  " 

William  M.  Casey, 

17,    " 

William   M.   Mehl, 

Apr. 

3,    1862, 

Commissary  Sergeant. 
Jacob  Roop, 

Aug. 

28,   1861, 

Hospital  Steward. 
Richard  S.  Allen, 

u 

28,    •' 

Ralph   B.    Clarke, 

Aug. 

12,  1862, 

Principal    Musician. 

Lewis  W.   Grantier, 

Feb. 

28,  1862, 

Fife    Major. 
Hiram  W.  Landon, 

(( 

2,    " 

Remarks. 


Discharged  G.  O.  Sept.  6,  '62. 

As  Private  Company  B. 

Promoted  to  Assistant  Surgeon  Aug.  4,  '62. 

Discharged  S.   O.  Oct.  21,  '62. 

Transferred  to  io6th  Battalion. 

Discharged  S.  O.  Dec.  5,  '63. 

Discharged   Oct.   31,   '62.     Resignation. 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Co.  I  May  i,  '62. 
As  Sergeant  Company  H. 
Promoted  Sergeant-Major  May  i,  '62. 
Promoted  to  ist  Lieut.  Co.  F  Sept.  19, '62 
As  1st  Sergeant  Co.  L 
Promoted  to  Sergeant-Major  Sept.  19,  '62. 
Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Co.  G  Mar.  i,'63. 
As  Private  Company  D. 
Detailed  as  Telegraph  Operator  Dec.  i,  '61. 
Captured  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  Sept.  12,  '62. 
.Escaped  in  a  few  days  and  joined  Regiment. 
Promoted  to  Sergeant-Major  March  i,  '6;^. 
Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  Jan.  15,  '64. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  26,  '64. 
As  Corporal  Company  C. 
Promoted  to  Sergeant  Sept.   17,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 
Promoted  to   ist   Sergeant  Jan.   i,  '64. 
Promoted  to  Sergeant  Major  May  i,  '64. 
Transferred  to  io6th  Battalion. 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Co.  I  Sept.  6,  '62. 

As  Private  Company  A. 

Promoted  to  Quartermaster  Sergt.  Sept.  2,  '62. 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Co.  A  Mar.  i,  '63. 

As  Private  Company  E. 

Promoted  to  Quartermaster  Sergt.  Mar.  I,  '63. 

Transferred  to  io6th  Battalion. 

Mustered  out  with  Regiment  Sept.   10,  '64. 

As  Private  Company  B. 

Appointed  Acting  Hospital  Steward. 

Died  at  Camp  Observation,  Md.,  Dec.  17,  '62. 

Transferred  to  io6th  Battalion. 


As  Musician  Company  K. 

Promoted  Principal  Musician  Nov.  i. 

Transferred  to  io6th  Battalion. 


'63. 


Died  at  Bolivar  Heights,  Va.,  Sept.  24,  '62. 


300 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


REGIMENTAL   BAND. 


Name  and  Rank. 

DATE     OF 

ENLISTMENT. 

Remarks. 

Leader. 
Fridoline,    Stopper 

Oct.     7,   1861, 

Discharged  June  18,  '62  by  General  Orders. 

1st  Class  Musicians. 
Stopper,   Felix 
Smith,   Martin 
Riley,  John 
Eckert,    Charles 

"       7,     " 
"       7,     " 

u           ^^        u 

7,     " 

2d  Class. 
Stipe,  Thomas 
Hale,  Ephraim  R. 
Aten,    Henry    J. 
Hofifman,  George  W. 

7,     " 
"       7,     " 
"       7,     " 

7,     " 

Discharged  Aug.  8,  '62,  by  General  Orders. 

3d  Class. 
Stipe,   Anthony 
Jones,   George   W. 
Patton,   Joseph    R. 
Riley,    Thomas 
Zeiler,   Chas.   M. 
Gross,  Charles 
Rawn,  Edwin 
Werline,  David  R. 

7, 

"       7,     " 
"       7,     " 

7. 

7,     '' 
"       7,     " 
"       7,     " 

FIELD  AND  STAFF  OF  BATTALION 


301 


FIELD  AND  STAFF  106th  BATTALION. 

This  Roll  has  been  made  up  from  the  Company  Rolls. 


Name  and  Rank. 


Lietuenant-C  olonel. 
John  H.  Gallagher, 


Francis  Wessels, 


Major. 
Ralph   B.    Clarke, 

Ad  infant. 
Ralph  B.  Clarke, 


Quartermaster. 
Ellis  Coder, 


Assistant    Surgeon. 
Erasmus  D.   Gates, 

Sergeant   Majors. 
Wm.   H.   Neiler, 
Edward  J.  Lathrop, 


James  C.  Reynolds, 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.      8, 1 86 1, 
Feb.    28,  1862, 

Aug.    17,    " 
Aug  12,  1861, 

"       28   " 

Sept.  13,  1862, 

Aug.    14,  " 
"        28    " 


Remarks. 


As  1st  Lieutenant  Company  A. 

Promoted  to  Captain  Company  K  Jan.  26,  '65. 

Promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  May  27,  '65. 

Not  mustered. 
Promoted  to  Colonel  June  23,  '65.     Not  niust'd. 
Mustered  out  as  Captain  Co.  K  June  30,  '65. 
As  2d  Lieutenant  Company  K. 
Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  June  15,  '62. 
Promoted  to  Captain  May  i,  '63. 
Promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  May  27,  '65. 

Not  mustered. 
Mustered  out  as  Captain  Co.  H  June  30,  '65. 

Mustered  out  as  Adjutant  June  30,  '65. 


As  Hospital  SteWard. 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Co.  K  Oct.  8,  '64. 
Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  Co.  K  Oct.  31,  '64. 
Promoted  to  Adjutant  Jan.  24,  '65. 
Commissioned  Major  June  23,  '65.  Not  must'd. 
Mustered  out  with  Battalion  June  30,  '65. 

As  Private  Company  F. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Promoted  to  Quartermaster  Dec.  i,  '64. 
Mustered  out  with  Battalion  June  30,  '65. 


Discharged  June    15,   '65. 


Discharged  Sept.  2,  '64. 

As  Corporal  Company  F. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Major  Sept.  7,  '64. 

Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  Co.  K  Jan.  24,  '65. 

As   Private  Company  B. 

Wounded   at   Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,  '62,. 

Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 

Trans,  to  Co.  H.  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Promoted  to   Sergeant. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Major  Jan.  24,  '65. 

Com.  1st  Lieut.  Co.  H  June  8,  '65.     Not  must'd. 

Com.  Captain  Co.  H  June  22,  '65.    Not  must'd. 

Mustered  out  with  Battalion  June  30,  '65. 


302 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


Name  and  Rank. 


Quartermaster  Sergts. 
William  M.  Mehl, 
Charles  Rettew, 


Commissary  Sergeants 
Giles    M.    Coons, 


Frederick  Weiderman, 


Hospital    Stezvards. 
Ralph    B.    Clarke, 
Charles  H.  Weinert, 


Ptincipal  Musicians. 
Lewis  W.  Grantier, 
Charles  T.  Whitcomb, 


Charles   Sims, 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


April     3,  1862, 
Mar.     7,  1864, 


Nov.     I,  1861, 


Sept.    17, 


Aug.    12, 
Sept.    23, 


Feb.  28,  1862, 
Aug.    II,    " 


Feb.    16,  1864, 


Remarks. 


Discharged  Apr.  16,  '65. 

As    Private   Company   A. 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Promoted  to  Quartermaster  Sergt.  Apr.  16,  '65. 

Com.  1st  Lieut.  Co.  K  June  8,  '65.  Not  must'd. 

Mustered  out  with  Battalion  June  30,  '65. 

As  Private  Company  D. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  July  11,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  '62. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Promoted  to  Commissary  Sergeant  Oct.  i,  '64. 
Discharged  Nov.  i,  '64. 
As  Private  Company  H. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  May  i,  '62. 
Wounded   at  Antietam,   Md..   Sept.    17,  '62. 
Promoted  to  Sergeant  Apr.  9,  '63. 
Wounded   at  Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Re-enlisted  Mar.  27,  '64.     Veteran. 
Wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  12,  '64. 
Promoted  to  Commissary  Sergeant  Nov.  I,  '64. 
Com.  2d  Lieut.  Co.  H  June  8,  '65.     Not  must'd. 
Mustered  out  with  Battalion  June  30,  '65. 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Co.  K  Oct.  8,  '64. 
As   Private  Company  C. 

Wounded  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  Mar.  i,  '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Promoted  to  Hospital   Steward   Oct.   10,  '64. 
Com.  2d  Lieut.  Co.  F  June  8,  '65.     Not  must'd. 
Mustered  out  with  Battalion  June  30,  '65. 

Discharged  Feb.  28,  '65. 

As  Private  Company  D. 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Promoted  to  Principal  Musician  Mar.  i,  '65. 

Discharged  June  13,  '65.     G.  O. 

As  Private  Company  H. 

Promoted  to  Principal  Musician  June  13,  '65. 

Mustered  out  with  Battalion  June  30,  '65. 


COMPANY   A  303 


COMPANY  A. 

This  Company  was  recruited  in  Philadelphia  by  Captain  John 
J.  Sperry  and  Lieutenant  James  C.  Lynch,  and  camped  at  Bull's 
Head,  West  Philadelphia.  Was  mustered  into  the  United  States' 
Service  August  17th,  1861,  and  left  Philadelphia  in  the  early  part 
of  September,  under  orders  of  Colonel  Baker  to  report  at  Wash- 
ington, to  guard  the  camp  of  the  First  California  Regiment,  that 
had  been  advanced  into  Virginia,  and  was  then  designated  as 
Company  S  of  that  Regiment ;  subsequently  joining  that  Regiment 
at  Camp  Advance,  Va.,  and  participating  with  it  in  the  skirmish 
attending  the  movement  of  General  W.  F.  Smith,  towards  Drains- 
ville,  Va. ;  and  upon  the  rendezvous  of  the  Brigade  at  Poolesville, 
Md.,  and  the  arrival  of  this  Regiment  from  Philadelphia,  in 
October,  it  was  then  assigned  to  it,  and  became  Company  A  of 
the  Fifth  California  Regiment,  which  was  afterwards  known  as 
the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Volunteers. 

The  Company  numbered  originally  three  officers  and  ninety- 
nine  men;  received  in  December  one  officer,  and  in  1864,  six  men, 
making  a  total  of  one  hundred  and  nine.  Of  these  one  officer  and 
ten  men  were  killed  in  action,  four  officers  and  forty-three  men 
wounded  and  five  men  captured,  three  died  of  disease  contracted 
in  the  service  and  two  of  wounds  and  one  in  a  Rebel  prison,  one 
officer  and  eighteen  men  discharged  for  disability  and  four  on 
account  of  wounds,  one  officer  for  promotion  and  one  officer  re- 
signed, fifteen  men  deserted,  twelve  re-enlisted  as  veterans,  two 
dishonorably  discharged,  six  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps  and  four  to  United  States  Artillery ;  leaving  one  officer  and 
nineteen  men  that  were  mustered  out  with  the  Company  Septem- 
ber loth,  1864. 

[Assisted  in  correcting  the  roll  of  this  Company  by  Captain  James  C. 
Lynch,  and  William  H.  Brady.] 


304 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


COMPANY  A. 


Name  and  Rank. 


Captain. 
John  J.  Sperry, 


Charles  S.  Schwartz, 


1st  Lieutenants. 
William  S.  White, 
James  C.  Lynch, 
Charles  S.  Schwartz, 
John  H.  Gallagher, 


2d    Lieutenants. 
James  C.  Lynch, 
Clinton  Shock. 
Charles  S.  Schwartz, 
William  M.  Casey, 


Jacob  Y.  Ely, 

1st    Sergeants. 
Charles  S.  Schwartz, 
Joseph  J.  B.  Strohm. 


John  H.   Gallagher. 
Charles  H.  Murdock, 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.    8,  1861, 


Remarks. 


12, 


Jan.  31,  1862, 

Aug.     8,  1861, 

"        12,    " 


14- 


14, 


12, 
13, 


Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3.  '63. 
Com.  Major  April  5,  '64.     Not  mustered. 
Com.  Lieut-Col.  July  8,  '64.     Not  mustered. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
As  1st  Sergeant. 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Nov.  i,  '62. 
Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  March  i,  '63. 
Wounded   at  Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Promoted  to  Captain  April  5,  '64.     Not  niust'd. 
Killed  at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va.,  May  12,  '64. 
Buried  Wilderness  Bur'l  G'd,  Grave  — ,  Sec.  — . 

Discharged  Oct.  31,  '61.     Disability. 
Promoted  to  Captain  Co.  B  Jan.  4,  '63. 
Promoted  to  Captain  April  5,  "64.     Not  must'd. 
As  Sergeant. 

Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  Dec.  i,  '63. 
Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  June  15,  '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  H  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  Nov.  i,  '61. 
Discharged   Nov.   i,  '62.     Resignation. 
Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  Mar.  i,  '63. 
As  Private. 

Wounded  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 
Pro.  to  Quartermaster  Sergeant  Sept.  6,  '62. 
Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Mar.   i,  '63. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,  '6^. 
Discharged  Dec.  15,  '63.     Wounds. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 


Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Nov.  i,  '62. 
As  Corporal. 

Promoted  to   ist  Sergeant  Nov.   i,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va..  Dec.  13,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Killed  at  Hatcher's   Run.  Va.,   Mar.  25,  '65. 
Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  June  15,  '64. 
As  Corporal. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Sept.  17,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64, 
Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  May  12,  '64. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 


COMPANY  A 


305 


Name  and  Rank. 

DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 

Sergeants. 
Charles  E.  Hickman. 
Jacob  Y.  Ely, 
Charles    H.    Crewe, 

Aug.     8, 1861, 

"       14,    " 
8,    " 

John   H.   Gallagher, 
Charles  H.  Murdock, 
E.  Sherwood  Walton, 

"       12,    " 

13,    " 
"       12,    " 

John  W.  D.  Smith, 

a  " 

William  E.  Wagner, 

14,  " 

Corpo'^als. 
E.  Sherwood  Walton, 
David    H.    Hess, 
Joseph  S.  Kite,  Jr., 
Francis  A.  Schaefer, 

"    12,  " 

8,    " 

13,    " 
8,    " 

Joseph  J.  B.  Strohm, 
Charles  H.  Murdock, 
John  W.  D.  Smith, 
William  A.  Steinmetz, 

14,    " 
"       13.    " 

Joseph  Weber, 

»     »   « 

David  G.  Walton, 

«     (1   « 

William  E.  Wagner, 
David    Campbell, 

14,  " 

8,    " 

John    S.    Dove, 

ID,    " 

Remarks. 


Killed  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17.  '62. 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  July  18,  '64. 

Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  '62. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 

Discharged  Dec.   16,  '63.     Wounds. 

Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  Dec.  i,  '63. 

Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  May  13,  '64. 

As   Corporal. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  March  7,  '63. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

As  Corporal. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Dec.   16,  '63. 

Killed  at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va.,  May  II,  '64. 

As   Private. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Dec.  30,  '63. 

Re-enlisted  Dec.  30,  "63.     Veteran. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  May  11,  '64. 

Wounded  3  times  at  Spottsylvania,  May  12,  '64. 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Mustered  out  with  that  Company  June  30,  '65. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  March  i,  '63. 

Deserted  October  3,  '62. 

Discharged  Oct.  11,  '62. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 

Discharged  February  9.  '63.     Wounds. 

Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  Nov.  i,  '62. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant   Sept.   17,  '62. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Dec.  16,  '63. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.  17,  '62. 

Wounded   at  Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Nov.  i,  '62. 

Discharged  March  14,  '63. 

As  Private. 

Wounded   at   Antietam,   Md.,   Sept.    17,   '62. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 

Promoted  to   Corpora)   March   i,   '63. 

Killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  May  11,  '64. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Dec.  30.  '63. 

Mustered   out   with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

As  Private. 

Wounded   at  Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,   '63. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Dec.  30.  '63. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 


306 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


Name  and  Rank. 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Corporals. 
William  H.   Myers, 

William    Huddell, 

William  Mellon, 

George  Wagner, 


Musicians. 
George   W.   Kurtz, 

Frank  Lewis, 

Privates. 
Beckley,  Joshua 
Bowers,    William 
Bowman,   Isaac 

Boyer,    William    P. 
Boyle,   William 
Brady,  William  H. 


Campbell,    David 
Casey,    William    M. 
Connelly,   John 

Cramer,    John    L. 
Dove,  John  S. 
Dubbs,  John  A. 

Ecker,  Aaron 
Evans,  Wilson 
Fesmire,  John 


Fitzell,  Louis 

Fritchman,  George  H. 
Fritzhman,    Wilson 
Forster,  James 
George,    William    C. 
Gilan,    Thomas 


Aug.    10, 1861, 
14,    " 


12, 


14, 
10, 


Remarks. 


10, 


12, 

a  a        it 

<"  <°'    I 

"  14,      " 

8,    " 

ID,     " 

8.    " 

May    4,  1864, 

Aug.    8,  i86t, 

April  27,  1864, 
Aug.   10,  1861, 


As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  May  13,  '64. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  May  13,  '64. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  May  13,  '64. 

Captured  at   Petersburg,  Va.,   June  22,  '64. 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to ,  . 

Discharged. 

As  Private. 

Wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  12,  '64. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  May  13,  '64. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

Deserted  June  — ,  '62.     Returned  Apr.  — ,  '64. 

Discharged. 

Discharged  January   16,  '62.     Disability. 


Killed  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.   17,  '62. 
Discharged  Jan.  5,  '63.     Disability. 
Died  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  May  25,  '62. 
Buried  in  National  Cemetery,  Sec.  C,  Grave  262. 
Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  Feb.  15,  '64. 
Deserted  April  3,  '63. 

Wounded   at  Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Re-enlisted   Dec.   29,   '63.     Veteran. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  Dec.  30,  '63. 
Promoted  to  Quartermaster  Sergt.  Sept.  6,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Antietam,   Md.,   Sept.    17,  '62. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Discharged   Dec.    19,   '6r.     Disability. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  Dec.  30,  '63. 
Re-enlisted    Dec.    29,   '63.     Veteran. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Discharged  May  9,  '63.     Disabilitv. 
Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  18,  '64. 
Died  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  June  22,  '64.  Wounds. 
Wounded  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  18,  '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Deserted  Oct.  3,  "62. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  July  i,  '62.     Disability. 
Transferred  to  1st  U.  S.  Artillery  Oct.  26, '62. 


COMPANY  A 


307 


Name  and  Rank. 


Privates. 
Green,  Daniel 


Greer,  Robert 
Harbeson,    John 
HarriSj  John 


Hartman,    Wenzell 
Heller,  Jacob 
Hickman,  John  R. 
Hickman,  Thomas 


Huddell,  William 
Hudson,  James   C. 


Kincaid,    Tilghman 
King,  Edward 


Lee,  John 
Leis\',  John   H. 
Lukens.    Charles 

Mahan,   Jos.    S. 
Matthews.  Lewis 
Mellon.  William 
Michals,   George 

Miller.    William   L 
Morris,   George   W. 


Murphj%  James  B. 

Murray,  William 

Myers.    William    H. 
McManemy.  James 
McManus,   Timothy 
Newell,  Albert 


Nichols,   Theodore 

Nixon.  Joseph 
Nixon,  Thomas  M. 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.    13, 1861, 


10, 

"  14.     " 

April    16,  1864, 


Aug.  II,  1861, 

17:     " 

"        10,    " 
"         9,    " 


14. 
12, 


April  13,  1864, 

Aug.  28,  1 86 1, 
14,    " 


10.  " 

8,  " 

"       14,  " 

8,  " 

(f  ti  a 

(i  II  <( 


Dec.      9,    " 
Aug.    15,    " 


Remarks. 


Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to  Feb.  26,  '65. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  Feb.  16,  '65. 

Re-enlisted   Dec.   29,   '63.     Veteran.     Deserted. 
Deserted  August  24,  '61. 
Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Died  at  Andersonville,  Ga.,  Oct.   10,  '64. 
Killed  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Discharged  April  8,  '63.     Disability. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Deserted  May  5,  '64.     Returned. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Dishonorably   Discharged  June   13,   '65. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  May  13,  '64. 
Deserted   Oct.  25,  '62.     Returned. 
Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 
Died  at  Wilderness  May  24,  '64.     Wounds. 
Mustered   out  with   Company  Sept.    10,   '64. 
Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64,  to , . 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Deserted  June   15.  '63. 
Discharged  Feb.  6,  '63.     Disability. 
Wounded  at  Fredericksburg.  Va.,  Dec.   13,  '62. 
Killed  at   Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  Mar.  16,  '64, 
Trans,  to  Veteran   Reserve  Corps  Dec.   I,  '63. 
Promoted  to  Corporal   May   13,  '64. 
Re-enlisted   Dec.  29,   '63.     Veteran. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,   '64. 
Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.   17,  '62. 
Wounded   at  Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Killed  at  Wilderness.  Va..  May  6,  '64. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Mustered   out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Wounded   at  Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Discharged. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  May  13,  '64. 
Discharged   Dec.   7.   '62.     Disability. 
Discharged  Oct.  20.  '62.     Disability. 
Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 
Re-enlisted  Doc.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Mustered  out  with  that  Company  June  30,  '65. 
Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md..  Sept.  17,  '62. 
Discharged   June    11.   '63.     Habeas    Corpus. 
Transferred  to  ist  U.  S.  Artillery,  Oct.  26.  '62. 
Mustered   out  with  Company  Sept.   10,   '64. 


308 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


Name  and  Rank. 


Privates. 
Osier,   Hugh   M. 
Ottey,   Richard 

Peterson,  William  H. 
Potts.    John    T. 
Ray,   William 


Rettew.  Charles 
Riley,  John 
Robinson.    Charles 


Rowbottam,    James 


Rowan,  John 
Rustine.  Albert 
Scullen,    Patrick, 


Shanier,    Edward 
Sharpley,    William 

Sheak,    Frederick 
Slavin,  Hugh 


Smith,  George  S. 

Smith,  George  W. 
Stafford,  Thomas  L. 


Steiner,    Edward 


Steinmetz.  William  A. 
Sterniger,   Charles 
Stevenson,  Charles  E. 
Strickler,   Samuel 


Thomas.   Wm.    S.,  Jr. 
Thompson.    Thos.    J. 

Turner,  John   S. 

Vanzile,    John 
Vaughan,  Elwood 
Vaughan,  Charles  H. 


date    of 
enlistment. 


Aug. 


May 
Aug. 


Dec. 

Aug. 


Dec. 

Aug. 
Dec. 
Aug. 


13, 
16, 

17, 
16. 

17, 


l85l, 


17, 


14, 

17, 

9, 


I7> 


1864, 
1861, 


17, 


14, 


16. 
II, 
16, 


14. 
8, 

9, 

8, 
9, 
16, 


Remarks. 


Died  at  Falmouth,  Va.,  March  14,  '63. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62 

Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  Jan.  I,  '64. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

Deserted   Nov.  24,  '61. 

Deserted  Aug.   21.  '61.     Returned. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 

Discharged. 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment 

Wounded  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.   13,  '62 

Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Re-enlisted  Dec.  29.  '63.     Veteran. 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Discharged  June  12,  '65. 

Discharged  Aug.  24,  '61.     Habeas  Corpus. 

Deserted  Aug.  24,  '61. 

Killed  at  Antietam.  Md.,  Sept.  17,  '62. 

Buried  in  National  Cemetery,  Section  26,  Lo 

A,  Grave  77. 
Discharged  Sept.  6,  '61.     Disability. 
Wounded  at   Antietam.   Aid..   Sept.    17,   '62. 
Discharged  March  28,  '63.     Wounds. 
Killed  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 
Wounded    at    Gettysburg,    Pa.,   July   3,    '63. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Deserted. 

Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md..  Sept.  17,  '62. 
Discharged  Oct.  20.  '62.     Wounds. 
Discharged  July  5,  '62.     Disability. 
Deserted  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  '62.  whil 

in    line   of  battle ;    was   finally   dischargee 

March  20.  '63,  from  V.  R.  Corps. 
Killed  accd'tly  at  Stevensburg,  Va.,  Jan.  15,  '64 
Buried    National    Cemetery,    Culpepper   C.    H, 

Va.,  Block  I,  Section  A,  Grave  227. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.   17,  '62. 
Deserted  Aug.  22,,  '61. 
Deserted  Aug.  20.  '61. 

Wounded  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62 
Wounded  at  Fredericksburg.  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62 
Deserted  April  i,  '63.     Returned. 
Discharged. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Wounded   at   Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 
Transferred  to  Veteran   Reserve  Corps   Nov 

ember  20.  '63. 
Transferred  to  ist  U.  S.  Artillery  Oct.  26, '62 
Transferred  to  1st  U.  S.  Artillery  Oct.  26, '62 
Discharged  Aug.  27,  '61.     Habeas  Corpus. 


COMPANY  A 


309 


Name  and  Rank. 


Privates. 
Wagner.  George 
Wagner,    William   E. 
Waldron,  George  W. 


Walton,   George 
Walton,    David    G. 
Weaver,   Andrew  J. 
Weber,    George   W. 

Weber,    Joseph 
Wetzell.  Samuel 
Widerman.    George 
Williams,   John   C. 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.    14, 1861, 


16, 

12, 


Remarks. 


Promoted  to  Corporal  May  13,  '64. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  Dec.  30,  '63. 
Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  '62. 
Wounded   at  Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Captured  at  Spotts\'lvania,  Va.,  'Sla.y  12.  "64. 
Prisoner  from  May  12,  '64.  to  Dec.  14,  '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment 
Discharged  June  12,  '65. 
Discharged  Aug.  24,  '61.     Habeas  Corpus. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  March  i,  '63. 
]\Iustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,   '64. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
IMustered  out  with  Company  Sept.  10,  '64. 
Promoted   to   Corporal   Nov.    i,   '62. 
Dishonorably   discharged  June  8,   '62. 
IMustered  out  with  Company  Sept.  10,  '64. 
Wounded  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 
Deserted  November  27,  '62. 


310  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


COMPANY  B. 

This  Company  was  recruited  in  Philadelphia  by  Captain  Joseph 
J.  Vaughan,  and  mustered  into  the  United  States'  Service  August 
28th,  1861,  and  camped  with  the  Regiment  at  Bull's  Head,  West 
Philadelphia  until  September  30th,  1861,  when  it  left  Philadelphia 
with  the  Regiment. 

It  contained  originally  three  officers  and  eighty-nine  men; 
received  in  1862,  two  officers,  in  1863,  one  officer  and  one  man, 
in  1864,  four  men ;  making  a  total  of  one  hundred.  Of  these,  one 
officer  and  nine  men  were  killed,  three  officers  and  twenty  men 
wounded  and  thirteen  captured,  one  died  in  a  Rebel  prison  and 
three  of  disease,  twenty-three  discharged  for  disability,  two  officers 
dismissed  from  the  service  and  two  officers  and  one  man  for  pro- 
motion, six  men  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  four 
to  Company  H,  thirteen  re-enlisted  as  veterans,  twenty  deserted 
and  one  drummed  out  of  the  service;  leaving  fifteen  men  that 
were  mustered  out  with  the  Company  September  loth,  1864. 

There  are  some  errors  in  the  roster  of  this  Company  which  the 
writer  has  been  unable  to  correct. 

[Assisted  in  making  out  this  roll  up  to  September  1862,  from  original 
Company  books  kindly  loaned  by  Captain  P.  J.  Hallowell,  and  since  that 
date  by  Captain  James  C.  Lynch.] 


COMPANY   B 


311 


COMPANY  B. 


Name  and  Rank. 


Captains. 
Joseph  J.  Vaughan, 

Paul  J.   Hallowell, 
James  C.  Lynch, 


1st  Lieutenants. 
Joseph  T.  Banister, 
John    A.    Steel, 


2d   Lieutenants. 
James  Thos.   Huey, 
Wm.  H.  Smith, 


1st    Sergeants. 
Wm.  H.  Smith. 
James   B.   Marshall, 


Sergeants. 
John   H.   Chambers, 
Alonzo    C.    Schank, 

John    M.    Napier, 
Samuel   T.    James, 

James  B.   Marshall, 
James   C.   Broik, 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.  28,  1861, 


I7> 


28, 
13. 


28,  " 


Remarks. 


Dismissed  the  service  by  order  Secretary  War, 

June  II,  '62. 
Discharged  January  4,  '63.     Resignation. 
As  2d  Lieutenant  Company  A. 
Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  Jan.  31,  '62. 
Promoted  to  Captain  Co.  B,  Jan.  4,  '63. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3,  '63. 
Wounded  at  Bristoe  Station,  Va.,  Oct.  14,  '62,. 
Promoted    to    Colonel    183d    Regiment    P.    V., 

June  21,  '64. 

Dismissed   the    service    Sept.    17,   '62. 

As  2d  Lieutenant  Company  C. 

Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  Co.  B  Sept.  17, '62. 

Promoted  to  Adjutant  Aug.  29,  '63. 


Discharged  Nov.  24,  '62. 

As   1st  Sergeant. 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Nov.  24,  '62. 

Killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 

Buried  in  National  Cemetery,  Sec.  C,  Grave  42. 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Nov.  24,  '62. 
As  Corporal. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Sept.  17,  '62. 
Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  Nov.  24,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to  April  9,  '65. 
Transferred  to  Co.  H  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  June  5,  '65. 

Killed  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  '62. 
Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  July  I,  '6^. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.  10,  '64. 
Killed  at  Gettysburg.  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Buried  in  National  Cemetery.  Sec.  G,  Grave  i. 
Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  Nov.  24,  '62. 
As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Jan.  2,  '62. 
Promoted  to  Sergeant  Nov.  24,  '62. 
Captured    at    Cold    Harbor,   Va.,   June   3,    '64. 

Prisoner   from  June  3,   '64  to  . 

Discharged . 


312 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


Name  and  Rank. 


Sergeants. 
Patrick   Murphy, 


Corporals. 
Samuel  G.  Sheppard, 
James  B.   Marshall, 
James   Sexton, 
John  Ennis, 

Thomas    M'Caully, 
Francis    Fritz. 
David  Crawford, 
William   Bell, 

James  G.  Broik, 
Patrick  Murphy, 
Samuel    Fitzinger, 


Samuel    Hayburn, 


James  Murphy, 


John  Hallowell, 


Musicians. 
Charles  J.   Napier, 
David  B.  Roche, 

Privates. 
Alexander,  Hugh 

Allen,  Richard  S. 

Altemus,  Wm.  A. 
Anderson,  Henry 

Armbruster,   Joseph 
Beatty,  James 
Binker,  James 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.    28, 1 86 1, 


April    14,  1864, 
Aug.  28,  1861, 


Remarks. 


As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Jan.  .6,  '62. 
Promoted  to  Sergeant  July  i,  '63. 
Wounded   at   Gettysburg,    Pa.,   July   2.    '63. 
Captured  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 

Prisoner  from  May  6,  '64  to  . 

Discharged  . 

Discharged  January  2.   '62.     Disability. 
Promoted  to  Sergeant  Sept.  17,  '62. 
Discharged  January  6,   '62.     Disability. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Transferred  to  Go.  H  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Reduced  to  the  ranks. 

Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  Sept.  7,  '63. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 

Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  Dec.  15,  '63. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Nov.  24,  '62. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  July   i,  '63. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.   17,  '62. 

Killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 

Buried  in  National  Cemetery  Sec.  F,  Grave  51. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Nov.  24,  '62. 

Killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 

Buried  in  National  Cemetery  Sec.  B,  Grave  18. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  March  6,  '63. 

Wounded   at  Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,   '63. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  July  I,  '63. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3,  '63. 

Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  Nov.  15,  '63. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.  10,  '64. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.  10,  '64. 

Transferred  to  Hospital  Dept.  May  24,  '62. 
Promoted  to  Asst.   Surgeon  Aug.  4,  '62. 
Acting  Hospital  Steward. 

Died  at  Camp  Observation,  Md.,  Dec.   17,  '61. 
Transferred  to  Co.  H  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  29.  '63.     Veteran. 
Transferred  to  Co.  H  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Discharged   Nov.   21,   '63.     Disability. 
Killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Buried  in  National  Cemetery,  Sec.  D,  Grave  46. 


COMPANY   B 


313 


Name  and  Rank. 


Privates. 
Blanc,    Louis 


Broik,   James   C. 
Burroughs,  Wm.   H. 
Callahan,    Patrick 

Canning,    James 


Caulfield,  John 
Chacon,  Alfred  W. 


Clerk,    John 
Collwell,  Andrew 


Delaney,  Joseph 
Devlin,  Charles 
Devlin,   James 

Duncan,  Wm.  H. 

Dupee,   Albert 
Ellard,    Eugene 
Emory,  Jacob 
"airchilds,  Wallace 


Fairchilds,    William 
Fay,  Stephen 


Fitzinger,   Samuel 
Fitzpatrick,    Michael 
Flick,  William 
Fritz,    Francis 
Gillespie,    Edward 
jlenn,   John 
jlinney.  Michael 
jwynn,  John 
FTaggerty,   Francis 
Hague,  Henry 


Halks,  Patrick 


DATE     OF 

ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.    28, 1 86 1, 


Remarks. 


April 
Aug. 


7,  1864. 


Re-enlisted  Mar.  3,  '64.     Veteran. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa..  July  3,  '63. 

Transferred  to  Co.  H  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Jan.  2,  '62. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

Re-enlisted   Mar.   3,   '64.     Veteran. 

Deserted  April  6,  '64. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 

Re-enlisted   Dec.   29,  '63.     Veteran. 

Killed  at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va.,  May  12,  '64. 

Killed   at  Wilderness,  Va..   May  6,  '64. 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 

Died  at  Andersonville.  Ga..  Sept.  4.  '64. 

Burial  record  Nov.  4.  '64,  Grave  10.815. 

Captured  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 

Prisoner  from  June  29,  '62  to  Aug.  7.  '62. 

Discharged. 

Captured  at  Peach  Orchard,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 

Prisoner  from  June  29,  '62  to  Aug.  7,  '62. 

Discharged  Jan.  6,  '63.     Disability. 

Discharged  Dec.  3,   '63.     Disability. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.  10,  '64. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg.  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

Deserted  Oct.  30,  '62. 

Deserted  Aug.  31,  '61. 

Deserted  June  30,  '62. 

Died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Dec.  31,  '62. 

Buried   in   Military   Asylum   Cemetery,   D.    C, 

Sec.  — ,  Grave  — . 
Captured  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 
Paroled  at  Richmond,  Va.,  July  31,  '62. 
Discharged  Feb.   10,  '63.     Disability. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to  April  12,  '65. 
Transferred  to  Co.  H  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Promoted  to  Corporal   Sept.   17,  '62. 
Discharged   March  28,  '63. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.  10,  '64. 
Deserted  March  i,  '62. 
Deserted  Nov.  30,  '62. 
Deserted  Aug.  31,  '61. 
Discharged  Oct.  27,  '63.     Disability. 
Discharged  July  7,  '62). 
Re-eidisted  Dec.  29.  '63.     Veteran. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg.  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Transferred  to  Co.  H  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged   Nov.    15,   '62.     Disability. 


314 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


date 

OF 

Name  and  Rank. 

ENLISTMENT. 

Remarks. 

Privates. 

Hallowell.  John 

Aug. 

28, 

1861, 

Promoted  to  Corporal  July  i,  '63. 

Hanlen,    Edward 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg, 
Re-enlisted   Mar.   3,   '64. 
Deserted  April  8,  '64. 

Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Veteran. 

Harvey,  George 

" 

" 

•' 

Deserted  Aug.  31,  '61. 

Hayburn,  James 

" 

" 

" 

Deserted  Aug.  31,  '61. 

Hayburn,   Samuel 

" 

" 

" 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Nov.  24,  '62. 

Hill,  Thomas 

" 

" 

" 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.  10,  '64. 

Hollingsworth,  James 

" 

" 

" 

Discharged   May  20,   '63. 

Disability. 

Hollingsworth,  James 

Dec. 

17, 

1863, 

Transferred  to  Co.  H  to 

serve  out  enlistment. 

Hurst,  John 

Aug. 

28, 

I861, 

Discharged  Dec.  31,  '61. 

Disability. 

Hurst,    Titus 

" 

" 

" 

Discharged  June  20,   '63. 

Disability. 

Jenkins,  John 

" 

" 

" 

Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  Sept.  i,  '63. 

Keene,   Denny 

'• 

(1 

" 

Captured  at  Petersburg, 

Va.,  June  22,  '64. 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64,  to  Nov.  25,  '64. 

Transferred  to  Co.  H  to 

serve  out  enlistment. 

Discharged  Feb.   14.  '65. 

Kelly,    Martin 

« 

" 

" 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg, 

Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 

Losing   left   leg  by   amputation. 

Discharged  ,  '64. 

King,  John 

tt 

" 

" 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.  10,  '64. 

Kinney,  William 

" 

" 

" 

Deserted  Aug.  31,  '61. 

Lynch,  Thomas 

April 

14, 

1864, 

Transferred  to  Co.  H  to 

serve  out  enlistment. 

Mackin,   Henry 

Aug. 

28, 

1861, 

Deserted  Aug.  31,  '61. 

Malloy,  George 

" 

" 

Deserted  Aug.  31,  '61. 

Mansfield,  John 

Drummed  out  of  service 
rison's  Landing,  Va. 

for  Desertion  at  Har- 
Aug.   IS,  '62. 

Masterson,  John 

(( 

Wounded    at    Antietam, 

Lost   leg. 
Discharged  June  10,  '63. 

Md.,    Sept.    17,    '62. 
Wounds. 

Moore,   George 

« 

" 

" 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg, 

Pa.,  July  2,  '6$. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

Moore,   Patrick 

" 

" 

" 

Captured  at  Gettysburg, 

Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 

Prisoner  from  July  2,  '63  to  . 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.  10,  '64. 

Morton,  Hamilton 

" 

" 

" 

Discharged  Feb.  7,  '63. 

Disability. 

Murphy,   James 

" 

" 

" 

Promoted  to  Corporal  M 

arch  6,  '63. 

Murphy,   Patrick 

" 

" 

" 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Jan.  6,  '62. 

Murrow,    Edward 

" 

" 

" 

Discharged  Sept.   10.  '62. 

Disability. 

McFadden,    Timothy 

" 

" 

" 

Deserted   Aug.   31,   '61. 

McGreal,   Patrick 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg, 
Wounded  at  Wilderness, 
Wounded  at  Petersburg, 
Captured   at   Petersburg, 

Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Va.,  May  6,  '64. 
Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Va.,  June  22,  '64. 

Prisoner  from  June  22  to  . 

Transferred  to  Co.  H  to 

serve  out  enlistment. 

Discharged  June  12.  '65. 

McHale,  James 

11 

(I 

(( 

Deserted  Aug.  31,  '61. 

Nathans,  Simon 

Re-enlisted   Dec.   29,   '63. 
Killed  at  Spottsylvania  C 

Veteran. 
.  H.,  Va.,  May  12,  '64. 

Neill,  Daniel 

'' 

" 

" 

Deserted  July  10,  '62. 

Paul,   Robert   A. 

" 

" 

'■ 

Deserted  March  27,  '62. 

COMPANY   B 


315 


Name  and  Rank. 


Privates. 
S^eynolds,  James  C. 


i^iley,  James 
i^oney,  David 
?iush,  John 
scheild,  John 
schetzline,   Baker 

ichetzline,  John 

smith,  Charles 
5t.  Ruth.  John 
atainrook,  Henry  A. 


5uthoff,  Joseph 


rhomas,  John 
^aughan,    Henry 


iVarnock,    William 

Webster,    George 

Williamson,    John 
Wood,   Albert   G. 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.    28, 1861, 


April 
Aug. 


1864, 
1861, 


Remarks. 


Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Transferred  to  Co.  H  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Deserted  Oct.  30,  '62. 
Discharged  June  2,  '63.     Disability. 
Discharged  Feb.  2,  '63.     Disability. 
Discharged    Sept.    10,    '62.     Disability. 
Re-enlisted   Dec.   29,   '64.     Veteran. 
Transferred  to  Co.  H  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Discharged  Aug.  27,  '62.     Disability. 
Discharged   July   27,   '62.     Disability. 
Captured  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.   17,  '62. 

Exchanged ,  . 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.  10,  '64. 
Captured  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 
Exchanged  Aug.  7,  '62. 
Discharged  Dec.   2,  '63.     Disability. 
Deserted  April  6,  '64. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Transferred  to  Co.  H  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Mustered  out  with  that  Company  June  30,  '65. 
Died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Sept.  22,  '62. 
Buried  Military  Asylum  Cemetery,  D.  C. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.   29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Killed  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  Jan.  22,  '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  H  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Deserted  April  25,  '62. 


316  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


COMPANY  C. 

This  Company  was  recruited  in  Philadelphia  by  Captain  R.  W. 
P.  Allen,  assisted  by  Lieutenants  Lynch  and  Steel,  and  camped 
with  the  Regiment  at  Bull's  Head.  Was  mustered  into  the 
United  States'  Service  August  24th,  1861,  and  left  Philadelphia 
with  the  Regiment  September  30th,  1861,  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant  Lynch. 

Not  having  the  full  complement  required  by  law,  Captain  Allen 
paid  a  visit  to  Bradford  County  for  additional  recruits,  and  with 
those  sent  by  Captain  Newman,  of  Company  D,  who  was  also 
recruiting  for  the  Regiment  in  that  section  of  the  state,  gave  him 
more  than  enough  to  fill  his  Company,  and  twenty-four  were 
transferred  to  Company  I,  to  fill  up  the  ranks  of  that  Company. 
Captain  Allen  joined  the  Company  soon  after  its  arrival  at 
Poolesville,  Md. 

The  Company  originally  numbered  three  officers  and  one 
hundred  and  eight  men,  and  received  in  1863,  o'^e,  and  in  1864, 
four ;  making  a  total  of  three  officers  and  one  hundred  and  thirteen 
men.  Of  these,  twenty-four  were  transferred  to  Company  I,  six 
to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  and  one  to  United  States  Artillery, 
seven  were  killed  in  action,  one  officer  and  forty-one  men 
wounded,  seventeen  captured,  one  accidentally  wounded,  two  died 
of  wounds,  one  in  a  Rebel  prison  and  six  of  disease  contracted  in 
the  service,  seven  re-enlisted  as  veterans,  three  deserted,  one 
officer  and  seven  men  discharged  on  account  of  wounds  and  one 
officer  and  nineteen  men  for  disability,  one  officer  and  two  men 
for  promotion;  leaving  one  officer  and  two  men  that  were  mus- 
tered out  with  the  Company  September  loth,  1864,  and  eleven  men 
subsequently  discharged  at  the  expiration  of  their  term  of  ser- 
vice, during  September,  October  and  November  of  that  year, 
from  Company  F,  being  transferred  to  that  company  to  serve  out 
their  term  of  enlistment. 

[Have  been  greatly  assisted  in  completing  this  roll  by  Sergeant  Joseph 
N.  Radcliff,  from  copies  of  original  rolls,  and  a  complete  diary  kept  by 
him  during  his  whole  term  of  service.] 


COMPANY   C 


317 


COMPANY  C. 


Name  and  Rank. 


Captains. 
Ralph  W.  P.  Allen, 

John    W.    Lynch, 
Harry  Neville, 


1st  Lieutenants. 
John    W.    Lynch, 
Benj.    F.  Sloanaker, 


Harry  Neville, 

^d   Lieutenants. 
John  A.  Steel, 
Benj.    F.  Sloanaker, 
Harry    Neville, 

1st    Sergeants. 
rheo.  L.  Lockerman, 

Harrv    Neville. 
Joseph   N.   Radcliff, 


William  H.  Neiler, 

Sergeants. 
Harry    Neville, 
[oseph  J.  Taylor, 

Benj.  F.   Sloanaker, 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.    13, 1861, 

Oct.       7,    " 
Aug.    13,    " 


Oct.       7, 
Aug.    13, 


19,    " 

13.    " 
28.    " 


Sept.      2,    " 

Aug.    13,    " 
"        20,    " 


Remarks. 


Discharged  Jan.  9,  '63,  for  promotion  as  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel   i88th    Regiment    P.    V. 

Discharged  Sept.  7,   '63.     Disability. 

As  Sergeant. 

Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  Nov.  7,  '62. 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  March  i,  '63. 

Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  June  5,  '63.  Not 
mustered. 

Promoted  to  Captain  Sept.  8,  '63.    Not  must'd. 

Aide   on   Staff  of   Gen.    Owen   Com.    Brigade. 

Wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  8,  '64. 

Mustered  out  with   Company   Sept.   10,  '64. 

Promoted  to  Captain  Jan.  9,  '63. 
As  Sergeant. 

Wounded  at  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  May  31,  '62. 
Appointed  Color  Sergeant  of  Regt.  Oct.  6,  '61. 
Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Sept.  17,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 
Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  March  i,  '63. 
Discharged  June  4,  '63.     Wounds. 
Promoted  to  Captain  Sept.  8,  '63. 

Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  Co.  B  Sept.  17, '62. 
Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  Mar.  i,  '63. 
Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  June  5,  '63. 


Discharged    Nov.    14,    '63,    for    promotion    as 

Lieutenant    iS7th    Regiment    P.    V. 
Promoted   to   2d   Lieutenant   March    i,   '63. 
As    Corporal. 

Color  Sergeant  from  Sept.  17,  '62. 
Promoted  to  Sergeant  Feb.   i.  '63. 
Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  March  i,  '63 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  from  Hospital  July  i,  '65. 
Promoted  to  Sergeant  Major  May  3,  '64. 


Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  Nov.  7,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Antietam,   Md..   Sept.    17,   '62. 
Discharged  Jan.   13,   '62.     Wounds. 
Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Sept.  17,  '62. 


318 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


Name  and  Rank. 


Sergeants. 
George  W.  White, 
Harry  J.   Blair, 

William  H.  Neiler, 

Joseph  N.   Radcliff, 
Jonathan  C.  Barnes, 


Charles  H.  Hickok, 


Corporals. 

William    McNeal, 

Aug. 

20,    " 

William   H.    Neiler, 
Joseph  N.   Radcliff, 

Sept. 
Aug. 

2.  " 
28,   " 

Stephen   P.   Taylor, 
Francis   Baile, 

Sept. 

20,     " 

i8,    " 

Benj.  F.  Williams, 

" 

IS,    " 

Almond  Cure, 

Oct. 

4,  " 

Henry  J.  Blair. 
Edward   Lilley, 

Sept. 

2,  " 
21,     " 

Jonathan   C.   Barnes, 
S.  Macy  Smith, 

Aug. 

24.    '•• 

28.    " 

Rufus  G.   Brown, 


DATE     OF 

ENLISTMENT. 


Sept.     2,  i86i, 


Aug.    28,  " 
Sept.   24,    " 


Oct.     16,    " 


Oct.     16.    " 


Remarks. 


Discharged    Feb.    9,    '63.     Disability. 

As  Corporal. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Nov.  7,  '62. 

Killed  at  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va.,  May  12,  '6^ 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '6i 

Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  Jan.  i,  '64. 

Promoted  to  1st  Sergeant  Mar.  i,  '63. 

As   Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.  17,  '62. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  March  I,  '63. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistmeni 

Discharged  Sept.  24,  '64. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Dec.  12,  '62. 

Badly  injured  by  being  trampled  upon  at  battl 

of  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 
Promoted  to  Sergeant  March  i,  '63. 
Appointed  Color  Sergeant  and  fell  with  Color; 
Killed  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 

Wounded   at   Antietam,   Md.,   Sept.    17,   '62. 

Died  of  Wounds,  Sept.  21,  '62. 

Promoted   to    Sergeant    Sept.    17.    '62. 

Acting  Color  Sergeant  from  Sept.   17,  '62. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Feb.  i,  '63. 

Discharged  Dec.  12,  '62.     Disability. 

Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  '62. 

Discharged    Sept.    24,    '63.     Wounds. 

Detailed  as  Regimental  Bugler. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistmeni 

Discharged  Sept.  15,  "64. 

Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 

Captured  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistmeni 

Discharged  April  6,  '65,  to  date  from  Oct.  4,  '64 

Promoted  Sergeant.  Nov.  7.  '62. 

As   Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.   i,  '62. 

Discharged   Mar.   18.  '63.     Disability. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Mar.  i,  '63. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Sept  17,  '62.. 

Re-enlisted   Dec.   29,   '63.     Veteran. 

Wounded   at   Spottsylvania,   Va.,   May   12,   '64 

Captured   at   Petersburg,  Va..  June  22,   '64. 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64,  to  May  17,  '65. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to   Corporal   Nov.   7,   '62. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment 

Discharged  Oct.  16,  '64. 


COMPANY   C 


319 


Name  and  Rank, 


Corporals. 
Charles  H.  Hickok, 
Thomas   Ward, 


Jesse  L.  Griffith, 
Charles  H.  Weinert, 


R'lusicians. 
Frederick  A.  Waugh, 
Clarence   Landon, 


Priz'atcs. 
Arbuckle,  Samuel  W. 

Baldwin,  Francis  M. 
Barclay,  Robert 

Barnes,  Jonathan   C. 
Babcock.    David 
Bothwell.   Alexander 
Brown,   Rufus  G. 
Brown,   George 
Carr,  Levi 
Clarv.    John 
Clifford,    Robert 


Coe,  Luther  B. 
Cole,   Orson   C. 

Comfort,   Wm.   H. 
Crandlc,  Job 


Crooks,  Thomas 
Carr.    John 
Comfort.    Isaac    M. 
Crowl,    James 
Dibble,   Cornelius 
Dibble,   William  A. 


DATE     OF 

ENLISTMENT. 


Oct.     i6, 1861, 

4,   " 


Aug.    20, 


Sept.    2S, 


Remarks. 


Oct. 


Oct. 


^7, 
4. 


Sept.    10, 

Aug.    24, 
Sept.    17, 


24, 
16, 


Aug.    24, 

Sept.    18. 

"        10, 

17, 


Oct.      4.    " 
16,    " 


4) 
Aug.    24,    " 

Oct.      4.    " 


Promoted  to   Sergeant  March   i,  '63. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  March  i,  '63. 

Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,   Sept.    17,  '62. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3,  '63. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Discharged   Oct.   6,   '64. 

As   Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  March  i,  '64. 

Killed   at  Wilderness,   Va.,   May  6,   '64. 

Wounded  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 

Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  March  i,  '64. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 


Killed  at  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  May  31,  '62. 
Discharged  Oct.  20,  '62.     Disability. 


Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md..   Sept.    17,  '62. 
Discharged  Nov.  26,  '62.     Wounds. 
Transferred  to  Company  L 
Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  II, '62. 
Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  Nov.  19,  '63. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.  17,    '62. 
Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  Mar.  i,  '64. 
Died  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  Apr.   18,  '62.     Fever. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  Nov.  7,  '62. 
Transferred  to  Company  L 
Died  at  Newport  News,  Va.,  Aug.  17,  '62. 
Discharged    March   31,   '63.     Disability. 
Badly  injured  by  being  trampled  upon  at  Fred- 
ericksburg. Dec.  13,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3,  '63. 
Discharged  March  i,  '64.     Wounds. 
Discharged   Dec.  3.   '62.     Disability. 
Wounded   at   Antietam,   INId.,   Sept.    17,   '62. 
Discharged   Nov.  9,  '63.     Wounds. 
Killed  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  Oct.  16,  '64. 
Discharged  Dec.  8,  '62.     Disability. 
Transferred  to  Company  L 
Transferred  to  Company  L 
Transferred  to  Company  L 
Transferred  to  Battery  U.   S.  A.   Nov.   20,  '63. 
Wounded   at   Antietam,   Md.,   Sept.    17,   '62. 
Died  Oct.  5,  '62.     Wounds. 


320 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


Name  and  Rank. 


Privates. 
Donehue,   John 

Elleashaw,    William 
Ford,  Charles 


Fulton.   James 
Flemming,    William 


Gage,   Mahlon 
Gerrity,  Thomas 


Grififith,    Jesse    L. 
Grover,  George 
Gross,   Edward   C. 


Haws.  William  H. 
Hellem,  George 


Hickok,  Charles  H. 
Hickok,    Newton 

Hipwell,  Henry  W. 


Heider,    Joshua    M. 
Helfstine,    William 
Hunter.   Geo.  R. 
Jones.    Geo.    N. 
Karr,  William  H. 
Karr,    John    C. 
Kennedy,   Patrick 


Kilborn,  Perry 
Kleinod,  Rudolph 


date    of 

ENLISTMENT. 

Sept. 

28, 1861, 

"' 

24,    " 
13,    " 

Aug. 

28,    " 
23,    " 

Oct.     16,   " 
Aug.    27,   " 


20,  " 
Oct.  13,  " 
April     I,  1864, 


Sept.    10,  1861, 
Aug.    20,    " 

Oct.      16,    " 


Aug.  24, 

Oct.  16, 

Aug.  31, 

"  28. 


Oct.    14.    " 
Sept.      9,    " 


Remarks. 


Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,   Dec.  13,  '6; 
Discharged  jNIay  29,  '63.     Wounds. 
Trans,   to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps   Oct.    i,  '6; 
Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,   Sept.   18,  '62,  b 

officer's  servant,  losing  leg. 
Discharged  Feb.   i,  '63. 
Transferred  to  Company  I. 
Detailed  as  Teamster. 
Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to  April  28,  '65. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  ser\^e  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  March  3,  '65. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistmen' 
Discharged  Oct.  16,  '64. 
Wounded  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Captured  at  Petersburg.  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Died  at  Andersonville,   Ga.,  November  2,  '61 

Grave  12,277. 
Promoted  Corporal  March  i,  '64. 
Died  at  Newport  News,  Va.,  Aug.,  '63. 
Wounded  at  Wilderness.  Va.,  May  6.  '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistmeni 
Mustered  out  with  that  Company  June  30.  '6; 
Died  at  White  House,  Va.,  May  31,  '62.     Typh 

oid  Fever. 
Wounded  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Captured  at  Petersburg.  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to  April  28.  '65. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistmeni 
Discharged  June  16,  '65. 
Promoted  Corporal  Dec.  12,  '62. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistmeni 
Discharged  Oct.  16,  '64. 
Captured  at  Malvern  Hill,  Va.,  July  i,  '62. 
Released  and  returned  to  Regiment  Aug.  6,  '62 
Deserted  Aug.  14.  '62. 
Transferred  to  Company  I. 
Transferred  to  Company  I. 
Transferred  to  Company  I. 
Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  July  i,  '63. 
Discharged    Oct.    31,    '62.     Disability. 
Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  Mar.  31,  '64 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  29.  '63.     Veteran. 
Captured  at  Petersburg.  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22.  '64.  to  Apr.  28,  '65. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  June  8.  '65. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment 
Discharged  Oct.  16,  '64. 
Captured  at  Malvern  Hill  July  i,  '62. 
Discharged  Feb.   13,  '63.     Disability. 


COMPANY   C 


321 


Name  and  Rank. 


Privates. 
Kelly,    William 

Landon,  Fred.   L. 
Landon,    Levi    T. 

Levi,  David 
Lilley,  Edward 
Loomis.   Clias. 
Love.  William  H. 
Lindley,   Denton   G. 
McConnell,  James 
McEwen,  Joseph 


McManus.    William 
McNalley,  Peter 
Mathews,  Thomas  M. 
Metcalf,    John    W. 

Mitchell,  James 


Munroe,  John 
Myers.    Geo.    E. 
Newell,  Benj.  F. 


D'Donnell,    Thomas 


Painter,  John   H. 
Palmer,   Henry   C. 


Phillips,  Fred.  L. 


ilobinson,  Geo.   H. 
^ambo,  Wm.  H. 


?omhclt,  John 
^afferty,  John 
ioe,  Thos.  D. 


date    of 
enlistment. 


Remarks. 


Aug.  12, 1861, 

Oct.  4,  " 

16,  " 

Sept.  23,  " 

"  21,  " 

Oct.  16,  " 

Sept.  10,  " 

Aug.  28,  " 

"  27,  " 

Sept.  17,  " 


Aug.  28,  " 

Sept.  26,  " 

Aug.  31.  " 

"  28.  " 


Sept.  17, 
Aug.  28. 
Oct.     13, 


Sept.    17,    " 


Oct. 


16,    " 


April   12,  1864, 


Oct.       4,  1861, 
Sept.    12,    " 


Mar.    23, 1864, 
Aug.    24,  1861, 


Wounded  at  Fredericksburg.  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 
Died  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  5,  '63.     Poison. 
Discharged   Aug.   4,   '62.     Disability. 
Died  at  Canton,  Bradford  Co.,  Pa.,  Oct.  28,  '62. 

Fever. 
Killed  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 
Promoted  Corporal  Sept.  i,  '62. 
Deserted  July  2,  '62. 

Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  Nov.  ig,  '63. 
Transferred  to  Company  L 
Mustered  out  with  Regiment  Sept.  10,  '64. 
Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  "64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  June   12,  '65. 
Transferred  to  Company  L 
Transferred  to  Company  L 
Discharged   Jan.   20,   '63.     Minority. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  Aug.  31,  '64. 
Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner   from   June   22,   '64  to   April   28.   '65. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  May  31,  '65. 
Discharged   Jan.    16,   '63.     Disability. 
Transferred  to  Company  L 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3,  '63. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  Dec.  i,  '64. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64,  to  Apr.  28.  '65. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  June  5,  '65. 

Killed  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec,  13,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Malvern  Hill,  Va.,  July  2,  '62. 
Captured  at  Malvern  Hill,  Va.,  July  2,  '62. 
Exchanged  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Deserted    from    Hospital   '62,    and   enlisted    in 

another  Regiment. 
Wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  12,  '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  from  Hospital. 
Discharged   Sept.    12,   '62.     Disability. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  3,  '63. 
Wounded  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Captured   at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,   '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64,  to  April  28,  '65. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  June  12,  '65. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Transferred  to  Company  I. 
Transferred  to  Company  L 


322 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


Name  and  Rank. 


Privates. 
Seaman,  Thomas  A. 

Scholl,  Edward 


Schluttenhofer,    F. 


Smith,  S.  Macy 
Smith,   Wm.   W. 

Spencer,  James  W. 


Spencer,  Henry  H. 


Stone,  Truman 

" 

" 

" 

Sweeney,    WiUiam 

Sept. 

23, 

" 

Sellerd,'D.  M. 

Sheilds,   Geo. 

Aug. 

24, 

" 

Smith,    Chas.    W. 

(( 

28. 

" 

Sullivan.  John 

" 

27, 

" 

Swain,  William 

" 

24, 

" 

Spicer,    Godfrey 

" 

" 

Trexler,  James 

Sept. 

2, 

** 

Teil,  Samuel 

Aug. 

26, 

" 

Vandyke,    Pericles 

Oct. 

4- 

" 

Ward,    Matthew 

" 

" 

Ward,   Thomas 

(( 

" 

« 

Weinert,  Chas.   H. 

Sept. 

23> 

" 

Weinert,  Henry  H. 

May 

13. 

1863 

Warren,  James 

Oct. 

16, 

1861 

Wright,    Bernard    L. 

It 

13, 

It 

Wiieman,   Thomas 

Wood,  Thomas 

Aug. 

24. 

" 

Young,   William 

April 

21, 

1864 

DATE    OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Oct.       4,  1861, 
Sept.     g,   " 

April   13,  1864. 


Aug.    28, 1 86 1, 
Oct.     16.    " 


Remarks. 


Wounded  at  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  May  31,  '62. 

Discharged  Dec.  18,  '62.     Disability. 

Wounded  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64.  ' 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64,  to  April  28,  '65. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Discharged  June  23,  '65. 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  Jan.  22,  '64. 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64,  to  April  28,  '65. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Discharged  June  22,  '65. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.  17,  '62. 

Wounded  at  Malvern  Hill,  July  i,  '62. 

Discharged   Oct.    29,   '62.     Wounds. 

Wounded   at   Antietam,   Md.,   Sept.    17,   '62. 

Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 

Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 

Captured  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 

Prisoner  from  May  6,  '64  to  Feb.  26,  '65. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Discharged  Feb.  9,  '65. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 

Detailed  as  Sharpshooter  in  May,  '64. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Discharged  Oct.  16,  '64. 

Discharged  Oct.   14.  '62.     Disability. 

Discharged   Dec.    18,   '62.     Disability. 

Transferred  to  Company  I. 

Transferred  to  Company  I. 

Transferred  to  Company  I. 

Transferred  to  Company  I. 

Transferred  to  Company  I. 

Transferred  to  Company  -1. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.   13,  '62. 

Discharged  April  7,  '63.     Wounds. 

Transferred  to  Company  L 

Discharged   Dec.    10,   '61.     Blind   right  eye. 

Re-enlisted    Dec.    29,    '63.     Veteran. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Promoted  Corporal  March  i,  '63. 

Promoted  Corporal  March  i,  '64. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Wounded  at   Petersburg,  Va.,   lune  22,  '64. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Discharged  Dec.  14,  '64. 

Discharged  Nov.  6,  '62.     Disability. 

Transferred  to  Company  I. 

Transferred  to  Company  I. 

Captured   at   Petersburg.   Va.,  June  22,  '64. 

Transferred  to  Company  F. 

Died  at  Florence,  S.  C,  Feb.  — ,  '65. 


COMPANY   D  323 

COMPANY  D. 

This  Company  was  recruited  at  Canton,  Bradford  County, 
Pennsylvania,  by  Captain  Samuel  H.  Newman,  and  was  taken  to 
Philadelphia  in  August,  1861,  to  be  attached  to  the  Thirty-Third 
or  Keystone  Regiment,  and  was  encamped  on  the  Wissahickon 
Creek,  at  School  Lane,  with  another  company  recruited  by  Cap- 
tain Timothy  Clarke  (which  afterwards  became  Company  F  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  Regiment).  The  Company  not 
having  the  full  number  required.  Captain  Newman  returned  to 
Canton  for  additional  recruits,  leaving  First  Lieutenant,  William 
N.  Jones,  in  command. 

A  visit  was  made  to  the  camp  by  General  Baker  and  Colonel 
Morehead  to  induce  both  companies  to  join  Colonel  Morehead's 
Regiment,  then  known  as  the  Fifth  California  Regiment  of  Gen- 
eral Baker's  Brigade,  and  the  men  by  vote  so  decided,  and  both 
companies  were  removed  to  the  camp  of  the  Regiment,  at  Bull's 
Head,  West  Philadelphia,  and  this  Company  w^as  mustered  into 
the  United  States'  Service  on  August  26th,  1861,  and  left  Phila- 
delphia with  the  Regiment,  September  30th,  under  command  of 
Lieutenant  Jones. 

Captain  Newman  remained  at  Canton  and  its  vicinity,  recruit- 
ing for  the  Regiment  after  his  own  company  was  full,  and  joined 
the  Regiment  at  Camp  Observation,  near  Poolesville,  Md. 

The  Company  numbered  originally  three  officers  and  eighty- 
five  men.  and  received  in  1862,  eight,  and  1864,  eight  additional  re- 
cruits ;  making  a  total  of  three  officers  and  one  hundred  and 
one  men.  Of  these  one  officer  and  twelve  men  were  killed  in 
action,  and  three  officers  and  thirty-five  men  wounded,  four  of 
these  died  from  their  wounds,  and  thirteen  died  from  disease  con- 
tracted in  the  service,  seven  were  captured,  and  two  of  them  died 
in  the  Rebel  prisons,  eight  re-enlisted  as  veterans,  eighteen  dis- 
charged for  disability,  and  five  for  wounds,  nine  deserted,  six 
of  whom  returned,  six  were  at  their  request,  transferred  to  the 
artillery  and  cavalry  branches  of  the  service ;  leaving  one  officer 
and  twenty  men  that  were  mustered  out  with  the  Company,  Sep- 
tember 10,  1864. 

[This  roll  completed  from  original  Muster  Rolls  kindly  loaned  by  Cap- 
tain William  N.  Jones  and  is  believed  to  be  correct  in  every  particular.] 


324 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


COMPANY  D. 


Name  and  Rank. 


Captains. 
Samuel  H.  Newman, 
William  N.  Jones, 


1st  Lieutenants. 
William  N.  Jones, 
John  Irvin, 


2d   Lieutenants. 
John  Irvin, 
Joshua  A.  Gage, 


1st  Ser^ca'it^- 
John  H.  Hazleton, 
Benjamin    D.  Tuthill, 

William  Irvin, 


Sergeants. 
Joshua  A.  Gage. 
Benjamin    D.  Tuthill, 
Samuel  Irvin, 

Henry   C.   Veil, 
William  Irvin, 
James  W.  P.  Parsons, 


Albert  J.   Conklin, 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.    26, 1861, 


'^^ 


Remarks. 


Discharged  July   19,   '62.     Resignation. 
As   1st  Lieutenant. 
Promoted  to  Captain  July  19,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13, '( 
Mustered  out  with   Company   Sept.   10,  '64. 

Promoted  to  Captain  July  19,  '62. 

As  2d  Lieutenant. 

Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  July  19,  '62. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistme 

Discharged   Oct.  6,  '64. 

Promoti^d  to  ist  Lieutenant  July  19,  '62. 
As  Sergeant. 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  July  19,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Killed  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  12,  '64. 

Discharged  Nov.  4,  '62.     Disability. 

As  Sergeant. 

Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  Nov.  4,  '62. 

Discharged  Aug.   13,  '63.     Disability. 

As  Corporal. 

Wounded  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  ' 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  July  26,  '62. 

Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  Aug.  13,  '62. 

Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 

Mustered  out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  July  19,  '62. 
Promoted  to   ist  Sergeant  Nov.  4,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  10,  '64 
Mustered   out  with   Company   Sept.   10,  '64. 
Died  at  Harrison's  Landing,  Va.,  Aug.   13, 
Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  Aug.   13,  '62. 
As  Corporal. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Aug.   13,  '62. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  July  15,  '62. 
Promoted  to  Sergeant  Nov.  4,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13, ' 

Losing   left    leg. 
Discharged  Oct.  i,  '63.     Wounds. 


COMPANY  D 


325 


Name  and  Rank. 


Sergeants. 
[ohn  E.  Rockwell, 

rames  H.  Hall, 

Corporals. 

srael    Biddle, 
iVilliam  Irvin, 
ohn  E.   Rockwell, 
Albert  Donovan, 
squire  L.  Gage, 
ames  H.   Hall, 
"red.  H.  Spaulding, 
ames  W.  P.  Parsons, 
Ubert   J.    Conklin, 
jiles   M.   Coons, 


ames    C.    Turner, 
chabod    S.    Jones, 

Vilson  J.    Scudder, 

Lllery  J.  Holcomb, 
David  Irvin, 
{.obert    Mathews, 


DATE     OF 

ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.    26, 1 86 1, 


Remarks. 


As  Corporal. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Sept.   i,  '62,. 

Wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  12,  '64. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

As  Corporal. 

Promoted  to   Sergeant  Oct.   i,  '63. 

Killed  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  12,  '64. 


Reduced  to  the  ranks. 

Promoted   to   Sergeant  July  26,   '62. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Sept.  i,  '63. 

Deserted   about   Sept.   15,   '62. 

Discharged    Oct.    24,   '62.     Disability. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Oct.  i,  '63. 

Discharged  Jan.   18.  '62.     Disability. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Aug.   13,  '62. 

Promoted    to    Sergeant    Nov.    4,   '62. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to   Corporal  July   11,  '62. 

Wounded  at  Antietam.  Md.,  Sept.  17,  '62. 

Re-enlisted   Dec.   29,   '63.     Veteran. 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  July  26,  '62. 

Deserted  March  4,  '63. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Aug.  15,  '62. 

Wounded   at   Petersburg,   Va.,   June    18,   '64. 

Mustered   out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Nov.  4,  '62. 

Re-enlisted   Mar.   4.   '64.     Veteran. 

Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Died  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  Sept.  24,  '64.  Wounds. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  March  14,  '63. 

Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,   Sept.   17,  '62. 

Killed  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  12,  '64. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  March  14,  '63. 

Wounded  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 

Mustered  out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  March  14,  '63. 

Captured  at  Petersburg.  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 

Died  at  Andersonville,  Ga. 


326 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


Name  and  Rank. 


Corporals. 
Pembroke  S.  Kendall, 


Daniel  L.   Foster, 


Musician. 
Judson  W.  Holcomb, 

Priva  tcs. 
Ammerman,  John  F. 
Armstrong,  Sam'l  K. 
Bartlett,    Orrin    E. 
Bassett,  Andrew  B. 


Beach,  Ephraim  M. 
Biddle,   Fidelo 
Biddle,    Israel 
Biser,    John    B. 
Black,  William 


Carey,  James  G. 

Cole,  Thomas  J. 
Conklin.  Albert  J. 
Coons,   Giles   M. 
Dann,  Almond  C. 
Dann,    Jasper    N. 
Dann,   Silas   N. 

Dand,  Thomas 
Davis,  Henry- 
Dudley,  Mathias 

Elter,  John   S. 

Fellows.  Solomon  F. 
Fitzpatrick,   Daniel 
Foster,   Daniel   L. 
Foster,  Elavil  W. 
Fuller,  Andrew  J. 

Hackett,   Cyrus   P. 
Hall,  George  D. 
Harding,    Wickham 


DATE     OF 

ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.    26,  1 86 1, 


Nov.      I,    " 
Aug.     26.   " 

Mar.      I,  1862, 


Mar.    25,  1864. 
Aug.    26.  1861, 


Mar.      1, 1862, 
Aug.    26,  1 86 1. 


Feb.     26,  1864. 
Aug.    26,  1861, 


Nov.      I, 
Aug.    26, 


Remarks. 


As  Private. 

Wounded  at  Antietam.  Md.,   Sept.   17,  '62. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.  i,  '63. 

Wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  12,  '64. 

Mustered  out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  March  i,  '64. 

Killed  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  4,  '64. 


Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 


Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.  10,  '64. 
Killed  at   Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  ist  Pa.  Art.  Nov.  20,  '63 
Deserted  Nov.  21,  '62.     Returned  Mar.  4,  '63. 
Wounded  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  12,  '64. 
Mustered  out  with   Company   Sept.   10,  '64. 
Transferred  to  6th  U.  S.  Cavalry  Oct.  27,  '62. 
Discharged   Mar.    18,   '63.     Disability. 
Discharged   Nov.  8,  '62.     Disability. 
Discharged  Oct.  22,  '62.     Disability. 
Re-enlisted  March  29,  '64.     Veteran. 
Wounded  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment 
Wounded  at  Po  River,  Va.,  May  9,  '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment 
Transferred  to  6th  U.  S.  Cavalry  Oct.  27,  '62. 
Promoted   to   Corporal  January   15,  '62. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  July  11,  '62. 
Trans,  to  6th  U.  S.  Cavalry  Oct.  27,  '62. 
Died  at  Newport  News,  Va.,  Sept.  22,  '62. 
Deserted  Nov.   19,  '62.     Returned  Apr.  4,  '62 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment 
Killed  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  '62. 
Died  at  Point  Lookout,  Md.,  July  26,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 
Died  from  same  wound  May  19,  '64. 
Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,   Sept.    17,  '62. 
Discharged  Sept.   12,  '63.     Wounds. 
Deserted  Oct.  30,  '62. 
Discharged  Dec.  6,  '62.     Disability. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  March  i,  '64. 
Mustered   out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62 
Died  from  same  wound  Dec.  20,  '62. 
Discharged  Oct.  20,  '62.     Disability. 
Drummed  out  of  service  April  30,  '62,. 
Killed  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 


COMPANY  D 


327 


Name  and  Rank. 


Privates. 
Harlan,   George 


Harrington,    Henry 
Harrington,   P.    D. 


Harrington,    Peter 
Hoagland,  David  H. 

Holcomb,  Albert 


Holcomb,    Ellery   J. 
Irvin,   David 
Jones,  Ichabod  S. 
Kendall,  Pembroke  S. 
Kilmer,    William    E. 
Kimball,    Jacob    S. 
King,  Abraham 
King,   John   W. 
King,  Reeder 
King,    Robert    M. 
Landon,   James 
Long,  George 
Manley,    William   H. 


Mason,  George   G. 
Mathews,   Edward, 


Mathews,  Robert 
Mathews,    Thomas 


Myers,  William  H. 
Nestor,   Thomas 
Newell,  Warren  J. 


Polen,  William  D. 


date    of 
enlistment. 


Aug.  26,  1861, 

Feb.  29,  1864, 

it  «         <( 

Aug.  26, 1 86 1, 


Feb.     29,  1864, 

26,    " 
Aug.    26, 1861, 


Mar.    16,  1S64, 
Aug.    26,  1861, 


Mar.      I,  1862, 


Aug.    26, 1 86 1, 
Mar.      I,  1862, 


Aug.    26.  1 86 1, 


Remarks. 


Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 

Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 

Wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  3,  '64. 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Killed  at  Spottsylvania,  Va.,  May  12,  '64. 

Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 

Wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  3,  '64. 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Discharged  July  26.  '62.     Disability. 

Wounded  at  Po  River,  Va.,  May  9,  '64. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

Wounded  at  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  May  31,  '62. 

Wounded  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 

Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '62,. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  March  14,  '63. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  March  14.  '63. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Aug.  15,  '62. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.  i,  '63. 

Died  at  Milford  Station,  Va.,  May  28,  '64. 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Killed  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 

Trans,   to   6th   U.    S.    Cavalry   Oct.   27,   '62. 

Discharged    April   20,   '63.     Disability. 

Killed  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62, 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Deserted  Dec.  13,  '62.     Returned  April  30,  '64. 

Wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  June  8,  '64. 

Died  from  same  wound  in  Washington,  D.  C, 
June  18,  '64. 

Killed  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  '62. 

Re-enlisted  March  29,  '64.     Veteran. 

Captured  at  Petersburg.  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 

Exchanged  July  2,  '64  as  one  of  a  special  ex- 
change for  citizens  captured  at  Fredericks- 
burg, Va. 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  March  14,  '63. 

Re-enlisted  March  — ,  '64. 

Captured   at   Petersburg,   Va.,  June  22.   '64. 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to  May  17,  '65. 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Discharged  June  26,  '65. 

Discharged   Dec.    10,   '62.     Disabilit3^ 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

Deserted  from  Hospital  Dec.  20,  '62. 

Returned  April  — ,  '63. 

Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Killed  at  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  May  31,  '62. 


328 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


Name  and  Rank. 


Privates. 
Randall,  Chas.  F. 


Rathbone,  Joseph  W. 
Reeder,  Ambrose 
Riggs,  Geo.  C. 
Riggs,  Samuel  C. 


Rodebaugh,  E. 
Rolison,  Squire 
Rolison,    Uriah   C. 

Rundell,  Arthur  L. 
Schambacker,  C.  F. 
Schambacker,  Fred. 
Schambacker,  G.  W. 

Scheik,  Peter 


Scott,   Allen 
Scott,  Geo.  D. 
Scott,   Horace   N. 
Scudder,   Wilson  J. 
Sparks,    Erastus    F. 
Terry,  Darius  R. 
Thomas,  John 
Tripp,  Geo. 
Trout,   Burton   W. 


Turner,  John  D. 
Turner,    James    C. 
Tyler,  James  D. 


Vandyke,  Eugene  C. 

Vandyke,  James  M. 
Watts,   Hiram   B. 


Wenck,  John 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.  26,  1 86 1, 

it  it        it 

it  it        ti 

Nov.  I,    " 

Aug.  26,    " 

Mar.  I,  1862, 

Aug.  26,  1861, 


Mar. 

I,  1862 

Aug. 

26. 1 86 1 

Feb. 
Aug. 

it           n 

29, 1864 

26.  I86I, 

Remarks. 


Re-enlisted  March  — ,  '64.    Veteran. 
Wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  3,  '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Mustered   out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Died  at  Turner  House,  Va.,  June   15,  '64. 
Discharged  Dec.  10,  '62.     Injury. 
Wounded  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 
Re-enlisted  March  — ,  '64.    Veteran. 
Wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  3,  64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Killed  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  '62. 
Discharged    Nov.    21,    '62.     Disability. 
Wounded  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 
Discharged    Oct.    14,    '62.     Wounds. 
Died  at   New  York  Oct.   i,  '62. 
Died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  June  24,  '64. 
Mustered   out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Captured  at  Malvern  Hill,  Va.,  July  i,  '62. 
Died  at  Malvern  Hill,  Va.,  July  10,  '62. 
Re-enlisted  March  — ,  '64.    Veteran. 
Captured  at   Petersburg,   Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22.  '64,  to  May  17,  '65. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Died  at  Point  Lookout,  Md.,  Aug.   10,  '62. 
Mustered   out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  Nov.  4.  '62. 
Discharged   Jan.    i,   '62.     Disability. 
Transferred  to  6th  U.  S.  Cavalry  Oct.  27,  '62. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged   Aug.   Ii,  '62.     Disability. 
Wounded  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June   16,  '64. 
Captured   at   Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to  Feb.  27,  '65. 
Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  April  i,  '65. 
Discharged  Dec.  13,  '62.     Disability. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  July  26,  '62. 
Detailed  as  Telegraph  Operator  Dec.  i,  '61. 
Captured  at  Harper's  Ferry  Sept.  12,  '62. 
Escaped  and  Joined  Regiment. 
Promoted  to  Sergeant  Major  March  3,  '63. 
Wounded   at   Fair   Oaks,  Va.,   May  31,   '62. 
Discharged    June    18.    '64.     Wounds. 
Mustered  out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Deserted  during  battle  of  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept. 

17,  '62. 
Captured  and  returned  to  Co.  C  8th  Pa.  Cav'ly. 
Wounded  and   died   at  Alexandria,  Va.,  July 

5,  '65. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 


COMPANY  D 


329 


Name  and  Rank. 


Privates. 
Whitcomb,   Chas.   T. 


White,  Roswell 
Wilbur,  John 
Wilbur,    Lewis    N. 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.    1 1, 1862, 


Aug. 
Aug. 


26, 1861, 
26, 1861, 


Remarks. 


Transferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

i^rornoted  to  Principal  Musician  March  i.  '6=; 

Discharged  June   13,  '65. 

Died  at  Harrison's  Landing,  July  19,  '62 

Discharged   Dec.   20,   '62.     Disability. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62 

Deserted    from    Hospital   Jan.    i,   '63 

Returned  April  3,  '63. 

Captured    at    Petersburg,   Va.,   June   22,   '64 

1  ransferred  to  Co.  K  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Died  at  Florence,  S.  C. 


330  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


COMPANY  E. 

This  Company  was  recruited  at  Germantown,  Philadelphia,  by 
Captain  Francis  H.  Achuff,  about  August  15,  1861,  and  ren- 
dezvous at  Camp  Bull's  Head,  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States'  Service  August  28,  1861  and  left  Philadelphia  with  the 
Regiment,  September  30,  1861. 

The  Company  originally  numbered  three  officers  and  eighty- 
one  men ;  two  joined  in  1862,  and  one  in  1864;  making  a  total  of 
eighty-seven  officers  and  men.  Of  these  one  officer  and  five  men 
were  killed  in  action,  and  two  officers  and  twenty-two  men  wound- 
ed, and  nine  men  captured ;  of  these  one  died  in  a  Rebel  prison 
and  one  as  soon  as  he  reached  home,  four  died  of  disease,  one  of 
wounds,  three  at  their  request,  were  transferred  to  the  cavalry  ser- 
vice, two  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  five  re-enlisted  as  veterans, 
sixteen  discharged  on  account  of  disability,  and  seven  on  account 
of  wounds,  and  fourteen  deserted ;  of  these  Privates  Andrew 
Conovan,  Daniel  Cowley,  Leivis  Heckroth,  Charles  Parmer,  and 
George  Thompson,  were  not  satisfied  with  this  company  after  be- 
ing sworn  in,  left  and  joined  other  Pennsylvania  regiments,  went 
into  the  field  and  did  good  service,  although  marked  as  deserters 
on  the  roll  of  this  Company,  never  having  left  Philadelphia  with 
the  company,  or  been  in  camp  with  it.  This  left  one  officer  and 
eighteen  men  that  were  mustered  out  with  the  Company  Septem- 
ber 10,  1864. 

[This  roll  corrected  from  original  rolls  in  possession  of  Sergeant 
Rudolph  A.  W.  Oestman,  and  is  now  believed  to  be  correct  in  every  par- 
ticular.] 


COMPANY  E 


331 


COMPANY  E. 


Name  and  Rank. 


Captain. 
Francis    H.   Achufif, 

Salathiel  R.  Townsend 


1st  Lieutenants. 
Wyndham   H.  Stokes, 

Salathiel  R.  Townsend 
Jacob  M.  Miller, 


2d   Lieutenants. 
Salathiel  R.  Townsend 
Jacob  M.  Miller, 

1st    Sergeants. 
Jacob  M.  Miller, 
William  J.  Coward, 


Sergeants. 
William  J.  Coward, 
William  J.   Finley, 
Charles  Emmons, 

Rud.  A.  W.  Oestmann, 

Albert    M.    Malone, 


Corporals. 
Albert    M.    Malone, 
John  Drainsfield, 
Thomas  M.  Stroup, 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.  28,  1 86 1, 


Remarks. 


Wounded  at  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  May  31,  '62. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 

Discharged  April   13,  '63.     Wounds. 

As  2d  Lieutenant. 

Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  June  30,  '62. 

Promoted  to  Captain  April  17,  '63.    Not  must'd. 

Killed  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  5,  '64. 

Appointed  Regimental  Quartermaster  June  30, 

1862. 
Promoted  to  Captain  April  17,  '63.    Not  must'd. 
As  1st  Sergeant. 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  June  30,  '62. 
Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  Apr.  17,  '63.     Not 

must'd. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.  10,  '64. 

Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  June  30,  '62. 
Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  Apr.  17,  '62i-     Not 
must'd. 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  June  30,  '62. 
As   Sergeant. 

Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  June  30,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 
Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to  Dec.  16,  '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  March  8,  '65. 

Promoted  to   ist  Sergeant  June  30,  '62. 
Discharged   April    17,   '6t,.     Disability. 
Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 
Mustered  out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Wounded  at  Wilderness.  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 
Mustered   out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
As  Corporal. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  June  30,  '62. 
Captured   at   Petersburg,   Va.,   June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64,  to  Feb.  27,  '65. 
Iransferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged   June   12,   '65. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  June  30,  '62. 
Mustered   out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md..   Sept.   17,  '62. 
Discharged  Feb.   19,  '63.     Wounds. 


332 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


Name  and  Rank. 


Corporals. 
Thomas  Hart, 

Sylvanus  Kephart, 
James  Hamilton, 
Bernard    Devine, 

Theodore  Schaer, 

James  A.  De  Conrsey, 

William   Reiff, 


Musicians. 
Gustavus    Josephs, 

Privates. 
Agin,   Robert  B. 


Akin,    James 
Ashton,  George 

Bogan,  George 


Britt,  William 
Burness,  James 


Campbell,   Michael 
Carley,  John 


Carter,    George    W. 
Clark,   Patrick 
Collbridge,   Thomas 

CoUom,  John  B. 

Conovan,  Andrew 
Connell.  William 
Cox,    Thomas 
Crowthers,  James 


DATE    OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.    28, 1861, 


((  « 


Remarks. 


Wounded   at  Antietam,  Md.,   Sept.    17,  '62. 
Discharged  March  13,  '63.     Wounds. 
Discharged    Feb.    14,   '63.     Disability. 
Discharged   Sept.   11,  '62.     Disability. 
Deserted    October    30,    '62,    and    subsequently 

joined  another  regiment. 
Wounded   at   Antietam,   Md.,   Sept.    17,   '62. 
Discharged  Feb.   14,  '63.     Wounds. 
As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Aug.  4.  '62. 
Mustered  out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
As  Private. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  June  30,  '62. 
Captured   at   Petersburg,   Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64,  to  Feb.  27,  '65. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  June  3,  '65. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 

Transferred   to   Ambulance   Corps. 
Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64,  to , . 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  Oct.  13,  '63. 
Deserted  June  18,  '62,  and  subsequently  joined 

another  regiment. 
Wounded  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Mustered  out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Discharged  Sept.  20,  '62.     Disability. 
Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Died  at  Wilmington,  N.  C. 
Buried    in    the    Wilmington,    N.    C,    National 

Cemetery.  Grave  No.  11. 
Killed  at  Malvern  Hill.  Va.,  July  i,  '62. 
Re-enlisted    Dec.    29,    '63.     Veteran. 
Captured   at   Petersburg.   Va.,   June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64,  to  Nov.  26,  '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Died  at  Philadelphia  March  23.  '65. 
Transferred  to  6th  U.  S.  Cavalry  Oct.  30,  '62. 
Discharged    Oct.    10,   '62.     Disability. 
Transferred  to  Commissary  Department. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.   13,  '62. 
Discharged   May  19,   '63.     Wounds. 
Deserted  Aug.   30,  '61. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Deserted  January  24,  '63. 
Deserted  Oct.  30,  '63. 


COMPANY  E 


333 


Name  and  Rank. 


Privates. 

Crowley,   Daniel 
Culin,   Isaac   B. 
Dann,    Orlando    S. 
De  Coursey,  James  A. 
Dillon,    Patrick 
Dillsneider,    Martin 


Doane,  Samuel  N. 


Fisher,    William 
Gould,  Charles 
Hamilton,    James 
Hanhauser,  George 

Harley,    Conrad 

Heckroth,  Lewis 
Hilt,  Franklin  W. 

Howell,    John 
Howland,   Hiram 

Keel,  Samuel 
Kelly,  Michael 


Kendell,  Joseph 
Kephart,   William 


King,  Cornelius 
Landries,  George  W. 
Linder,  Jacob 

McCombs,   John 
McGlone,  John 


McGlenn,  Patrick 
McLaughlin,    John 
McManus,   Philip 
McPherson,   John 

Maccalier,    Chas. 
Mann,  Wm. 


DATE     OF 

ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.    28, 1 86 1, 


Remarks. 


Deserted  Sept.   18,  '61. 

Mustered  out  with   Company  Sept.    10,   '64. 
Discharged  Dec.   11,  '62.     Disability. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  Aug.  4,  '62. 
Discharged  Dec.  31,  '62.     Disability. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Deserted  Feb.  17,  '64. 
Wounded  at  Fair  Oaks,  May  31,  '62. 
Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Discharged  Nov.  3,  '63.     Disability. 
Discharged  Sept.  10.  '62.     Disability. 
Deserted  Aug.  28,  '62,  and  subsequently  joined 

another  regiment. 
Transferred  to  the  Ambulance  Corps. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Deserted   Sept.    18.   '61. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 
Mustered  out  with   Company  Sept.    10,   '64. 
Mustered   out  with   Company  Sept.   10,   '64. 
Wounded  at  Fredericksburg.  Va.,  Dec.  13,  '62. 
Discharged   May  20,   '63.     Wounds. 
Discharged  Sept.  5,  '62.     Disability. 
Transferred  to  2d  U.  S.  Cavalry  Oct.  30,  '62. 
Died,    date    unknown.       Buried    in     National 

Cemetery,    Gettysburg,    Sec.    B,    Grave   67. 
Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  Sept.  i,  '63. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg,   Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Captured   at   Petersburg.   Va.,  June  22,   '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64,  to  Feb.  27,  '65. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Discharged  June  12,  '65. 
Transferred  to  2d  U.  S.  Cavalry  Oct.  30,  '62. 
Died  at   Yorktown,   Va.,   May  7,   '62. 
Wounded  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 
Discharged    Nov.    29,    '62.     Wounds. 
Died  on  U.  S.  Transport,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Re-enlisted   Dec.   29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,   May  6,   '64. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Deserted  Oct.  31,  '61. 
Killed   at  Antietam,   Md.,   Sept.   17,  '62. 
Mustered  out  with   Company  Sept.   10,   '64. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg.  Pa.,  July  2,  '63. 
Mustered   out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Deserted  Oct.  31,  '61. 

Died  at  Harrison's  Landing,  Va.,  July  6,  '62. 
Buried    in    National    Cemetery,    Glendale,   Va., 

Grave  23. 


334 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


Name  and  Rank. 


Privates. 
Mehl,   Wm.   M. 

Miller,    John    V. 

Morrell,   David 

Morris.  Philip  K. 
Mountenay,  John 

Mulligan,    Andrew 
Noll,   John 

O'Farrell,  John 
Parmer,   Charles 
Pool,   James 
Reiff,  William 
Rice,  Jacob 


Rickley,  John 
Rodgers,  Francis 
Shaye,  Patrick 
Strauss,  Jacob 


Sweeney,  John 
Sullivan,  Patrick 
Trace,   William 

Thompson,    George 
Weingarten,    Christ. 
Whitcomb,    Benjamin 

Williams,  Tillason  L. 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


April     3,  1862, 
Aug.    28,  1 86 1, 


Remarks. 


Aug.      I,  1862, 
Aug.    28.  1861, 

Mar.      3, 1864. 


Promoted  Regimental  Quartermaster  Sergeant 

March  i.  '63. 
Re-enlisted  December  29,  '63.     Veteran. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Captured  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June  29,  '62. 
Killed  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6.  '64. 
Mustered  out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,   Sept.   17,  '62. 
Discharged    Feb.    24,    '63.     Wounds. 
Discharged   Dec.   26,   '62.     Disability. 
Wounded  at  Wilderness.  Va.,  May  6,  '64,  and 

died  on  battlefield  from  fire. 
Discharged  Feb.    18.   '63.     Disability, 
Deserted   Sept.   15,  '61. 
Discharged   Feb.   4,   '63.     Disability. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  June  30,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,   Sept.    17,  '62. 
Died  at  Smoketown.  Md.,  Oct.  10.  '62.   Wounds. 
Buried    at    National    Cemetery    at    Antietam, 

Section  26,  Grave  220. 
Trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  July  11, '63. 
Discharged  April  18,  '63.     Disability. 
Killed  at  Malvern  Hill,  Va.,  July  i,  '62. 
Wounded  at  Gettysburg.  Pa..  July  2,  '63. 
Wounded  at  Locust  Grove.  Va.,  Nov.  27,  '63. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Discharged  Nov.  15.  '62.     Disability. 
Deserted  Oct.  5.  '61. 
Re-enlisted   Dec.   29,   '63.     Veteran. 
Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 
Deserted  Sept.  20,  '61. 
Discharged  January  16,  '62.     Disability. 
Wounded  at  Locust  Grove   Nov.  27,  '63. 
Mustered  out  with   Company  Sept.   10,  '64. 
Captured  at  Petersburg.  Va.,  June  12,  '64. 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64,  to .  . 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 


COMPANY   F  335 


COMPANY  F. 

This  Company  was  recruited  at  Hughesville,  Lycoming  County, 
Pennsylvania,  by  Captain  Timothy  Clarke  and  Lieutenants  Farr 
and  Bryan,  and  came  to  Philadelphia  in  August  1861,  and  was 
camped  on  the  Wissahickon,  at  School  Lane,  (with  a  company 
from  Williamsport,  that  afterwards  became  Company  D,  of  this 
Regiment).  While  in  camp  they  received  about  fifteen  recruits 
from  Millville,  Columbia  County.  During  a  visit  to  the  camp 
by  General  Baker  and  Colonel  Morehead,  the  men  by  vote  de- 
cided to  join  Colonel  Morehead's  Regiment,  then  known  as  the 
Fifth  California  Regiment,  and  were  taken  to  the  camp  of  the 
Regiment  at  Bull's  Head,  and  mustered  into  the  United  States' 
Service  August  14,  1861,  and  left  Philadelphia  with  the  Regiment 
September  30,  1861,  for  Washington,  thence  to  Poolesville,  Mary- 
land. 

In  March,  1864,  in  compliance  with  orders  from  the  War  De- 
partment, asking  for  re-enlistment  of  those  in  the  field,  nearly  the 
entire  company  re-enlisted  as  veterans  and  were  granted  a  fur- 
lough for  thirty  days,  and  left  camp  April  i,  1864. 

This  Company  originally  numbered  three  officers  and  eighty 
men,  and  received  in  1862,  one  officer  and  two  men,  in  1864, 
thirteen  men ;  making  a  total  of  four  officers  and  ninety-five 
men;  of  these  two  officers  and  seven  men  were  killed  in  action, 
one  officer  and  twenty-four  men  wounded,  and  one  officer  and 
twenty-four  men  captured,  of  whom  four  died  and  one  was  killed 
while  prisoner,  eight  died  of  disease,  one  drowned  trying  to  escape 
from  prison,  thirteen  discharged  on  account  of  wounds,  one  officer 
and  twelve  men  for  disability,  six  deserted,  five  promoted  out  of 
company  and  two  officers  and  ten  men  discharged  on  the  expira- 
tion of  their  term  of  service,  five  of  them  at  the  time  the  Regiment 
was  mustered  out ;  leaving  seventeen  men  to  be  mustered  out  with 
the  company.  Upon  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  service  of  the 
Regiment,  this  Company  was  one  of  the  companies  retained  to 


336  THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 

form  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixth  BattaHon,  and  received  one 
officer  from  Company  A,  thirty-one  men  from  Company  C,  and 
ten  men  from  Company  E,  nine  of  them  were  prisoners,  and 
thirteen  from  Company  C,  merely  to  serve  out  the  balance  of  their 
term,  and  one  officer  and  six  men  that  were  mustered  out  with 
the  company,  June  30,  1865. 

[The  author  has  been  ably  assisted  in  perfecting  the  roll  of  this  Com- 
pany by  Richard  F.  Whitmoyer,  late  First  Sergeant  of  the  Company.] 


COMPANY  F 


337 


COMPANY  F. 


♦These  officers  held  their  commissions  and  the  non-commissioned  officers  their  appointments  in 
this  Company  after  the  consolidation  into  the  Battalion  and  not  in  the  original  Company. 


Name  and  Rank. 


Captains. 
Timothy  Clarke, 

William  V.   Farr, 


1st  Lieutenants. 
William  V.   Farr, 
James  C.  Biggs, 


Jacob   Y.    Ely,* 


2d    Lieutenants. 
William  Bryan, 
Clark  Whitmoyer, 


Jacob   Y.    Ely,* 

1st  Sergeants. 
Richard  Sanders, 
Edward    Webb, 


Ellis  Bryan, 
Charles  H.  McCoy, 


William  J.  Coward,* 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.    14, 1 86 1, 


Sept.    17,    " 


Aug.    17, 


14, 


17, 


12, 


"       14. 


28,    " 


Remarks. 


Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  '62. 

Died  from  same  Sept.  18,  '62. 

As  1st  Lieutenant. 

Promoted  to  Captain  Sept.   19.  '62. 

Wounded  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.   13,  '62. 

Captured   at   Petersburg,   Va.,  June   22,   '64. 

Prisoner  from  June  22.  '64,  to  Dec.  13,  '64. 

Discharged  March  7,  '65. 

Promoted   to   Captain   Sept.    19,   '62. 

As   Sergeant  Company  H. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Major  May  i,  '62. 

Promoted  to  ist  Lieut.  Co.  F  Sept.   19,  '62. 

Discharged   Oct.    19,  '64. 

As   Sergeant  of  Company  A. 

Re-enlisted  Dec.  29,  '63.     Veteran. 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  July  18,  '64. 

Transferred  to  Co.  F  to  serve  out  enlistment. 

Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  Nov.  25,  '64. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  June  30,  '65. 

Killed   at   Antietam,   Md.,   Sept.    17,   '62. 

As  Sergeant. 

Wounded  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  '62. 

Promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Sept.  19,  '62. 

Discharged  May  4,  '64. 

Promoted  to  ist  Lieutenant  Nov.  25,  '64. 


Killed  at  Antietam,  Md.,  Sept.  17,  '62. 

As  Sergeant. 

Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  Sept.  17,  '62. 

Discharged  Feb.  — ,  '63.     Disability. 

Discharged  Feb.  — ,  '63.     Disability. 

As  Sergeant. 

Promoted  to  1st  Sergeant  Feb.  — ,  '62,. 

Re-enlisted  March  30,  '64.     Veteran. 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to  Nov.  26,  '64. 

Promoted  to  ist  Lieut.  Co.  H,  May  16,  '65. 

As  1st  Sergeant  Company  E. 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to  Dec.  16,  '64. 

Discharged  March  8,  '65. 


338 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


Name  and  Rank. 


1st    Sergeants. 
R.  F.  Whitmoyer,*         Sept.    12,  1861, 


DATE    OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Joseph   N.   Radcliff,* 


Sergeants. 

Clinton   Sanders, 
Edward    Webb, 
Clark    Whitmoyer, 
Charles  H.   McCoy, 
William  H.  Kitchen, 


Richard  F.  Whitmoyer 
Edward  J.  Lathrop, 


John  Houghton,* 

Jonathan  C.  Barnes,* 
Albert  M.  Malone,* 

S.  Macy  Smith,* 
John  V.  Miller,* 


Corporals. 

Richard  F.  Withmoyer 
Edward  J.  Lathrop, 
Charles  A.  Rubright, 


Aug.    28,    " 


Aug.    12,  " 

il  ii  (( 

14,  " 

((        If  (( 

Oct.       I,  " 


Sept.    12. 
Aug.    14, 


Sept.   24,   " 
Aug.    28,    " 


Sept.    12,   " 

Aug.    14,  " 

"       28,    " 


Remarks. 


As  Corporal. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  March  20,  '64. 
Re-enlisted  March  30,  '64.     Veteran. 
Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to  Nov.  26,  '64. 
Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  June  13,  '65. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  June  30,  '65. 
As   1st  Sergeant  Co.  C.     Veteran. 
Wounded  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 
Discharged  July  i,  '65. 


Discharged.     Disability. 

Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  Sept.  17,  '62. 

Promoted   to  2d   Lieutenant   Sept.    17,   ' 

Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  Feb.  — ,  '63. 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22.  ' 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to  Nov.  26, 

Discharged  Feb.  11,  '65. 

Promoted  to  ist  Sergeant  June  13,  '65. 

Wounded  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June 

Captured  at  Savage  Station,  Va.,  June 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  Major  Sept.  i. 

As  Corporal. 

Re-enlisted  March  30,  '64.     Veteran. 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22, 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to  Nov.  26, 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  June  13,  '65. 

Mustered  out  with  Company  June  30, 

As   Sergeant   Company  C. 

Discharged  Sept.  24,  '64. 

As   Sergeant   Company  E. 

Captured   at   Petersburg,  Va..  June  22, 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to  Feb.  27, 

Discharged  June  12.  '65. 

As  Corporal  Company  C.     Veteran. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant   Co.  F  June   12, 

Discharged  June  26,  '65. 

As  Private  Company  E.     Veteran. 

Promoted  to  Corporal  Aug.  26,  '64. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  June   13,  '65. 

Mustered  out  with  this  Company  June 


62  . 

'64. 
'64. 


29,  '6: 
29,  '6: 
'64. 


64. 
'64. 

'65. 


'64. 
'65. 


'65. 


30.  .'6 


Promoted  to  Sergeant  March  20,  '64. 
Promoted  to  Sergeant  March  21,  '64. 
Re-enlisted  March  30,  '64.     Veteran. 
Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to  April  28,  '65. 
Discharged  June  5,  '65. 


COMPANY    F. 


Corporal  Charles  A,  Rubright. 

1861— 1865 

When  released  from  Rebel  Prisons,  April  2a,  1865. 

Re-enlisted  March  30,  1864.     Veteran. 

Captured  at  Petersburg.  Va..  June  22,  1S64. 

Prisoner  from  June  22.  1S64  to  April  28.  1865. 

Discharged  June  5,  1865 


COMPANY  F 


339 


Name  and  Rank. 


Corporals. 
Frederick    Lucke, 


Charles  B.  Yeakle, 
Robert  Rook, 

Henry    McCoy. 


John  Hou.^hton, 
John  V.  Miller. 
Benj.    F.    Williams, 

Almond    Cure,* 


S.  Macy  Smith.* 
Rufus  j.    Brown,* 

Thomas    Ward.* 

William    Reiff,* 

Charles  H.  Weinert,* 
John    V.    Miller,* 
Henry  H.  Weinert,* 

Adam   Bitler,* 

John    F.  Burkholder,* 
Charles    Fleckenger.* 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


Aug.    14, 1861, 


It  It       tt 


"  28.     " 

Sept.    15,    " 
Oct.      4,    " 


Aug. 
Oct. 

28,    " 
16.    " 

Oct. 

4.    " 

Aug. 

28,    " 

Sept. 

23,   " 

Aug. 

28.    " 

May 

II,  1863 

Sept. 

12. 1861 

" 

4,    " 

Aug. 

14,    " 

Remarks. 


Wounded   at   Gettysburg,    Pa.,   July   3,   '63.  ' 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,'  June  22,  '64. 
Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to ,  . 

Discharged  June  15,  '65. 

Captured  at  Gettysburg.  Pa.,  July  3,  '63. 

Prisoner  from  July  3,  '63  to  Nov.  26,  '64. 

Discharged  Feb.  22,  '65. 

Re-enlisted  March  30,  '64.     Veteran. 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va..  June  22,  '64. 

Prisoner  from  June  22.  '64  to  May  17,  '65. 

Discharged  June  26.  '65. 

Re-enlisted  March  30.  '64.     Veteran. 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 

Escaped  from  Danville.  Va..  and  was  drowned 
in  James  River  trying  to  reach  our  lines 
July  2.   1864. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  June  13,  '65. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  June   13,  '65. 

As   Corporal   Company   C. 

Discharged  Sept.  15.  '64. 

As  Corporal  Company  C. 

Wounded  at  Wilderness.  Va..  May  6,  '64. 

Captured  at  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  6,  '64. 

Prisoner  from  May  6,  '64  to ,  . 

Discharged  April  6.  '65  to  date  from  Oct.  4,  '64. 

Promoted  to  Sergeant  June  12,  '65. 

As  Corporal  Company  C. 

Discharged   Oct.   16,  '64. 

As    Corporal    Company    C. 

Discharged  Oct.  6.  '64. 

As   Corporal   Company  E.     Veteran. 

Captured  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  22,  '64. 

Prisoner  from  June  22,  '64  to  Feb.  27,  '65. 
Discharged  June  3.  '65. 
As  Corporal  Company  C. 
Promoted  to  Hospital  Steward  Oct.   10,  '64. 
As   Private   Company  C     Veteran. 
Promoted  to  Sergeant  June  13,  '65. 
As  Private  Company  C. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  June  15.  '63. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  June  30,  '65. 
/\s  Private. 

Re-enlisted    March  30,   '64.     Veteran. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  June  13.  '65. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  June  30,  '65. 
Re-enlisted  March  30,  '64.     Veteran. 
Promoted  to   Corporal  June   13.  '65. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  June  30,  '65. 
Re-enlisted  March  30.  '64.     Veteran. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  June  13.  '65. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  June  30,  '65. 


340 


THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTH  REGIMENT 


Name  and  Rank. 


Corporals. 
Ellis    Houseknecht,* 

Samuel  C.  Snyder,* 

Joseph  H.  Smith,* 


Musicians. 
Burdick  U.   Travis, 

Privates. 
Agin,  Robt.  B. 


Anderson,   John    R. 

Artley,  Ellis 
Brambleson,  John 

Black,  Samuel  N. 


Bitler,   Adam 
Bobb,  William 

Bolton,  

Bryan,    Lawson 


Burkholder  John  F. 
Carley,  John 


Carlisle,  Charles 
Casselberrv,  John 
Clarke,    Ralph   B. 
Coder,   Ellis 

Coder,  William 

Coffman,  John 

Colburn,  William 
Cowles,   Edwin   F. 


DATE     OF 
ENLISTMENT. 


May  1, 1864. 

Aug.  14, 1861, 

'•  28.    " 

"  14.    " 

"  28,    " 

Oct.  31,   " 

May  6,  1864, 

Aug.  14,  1 86 1, 


Sept.  12,    " 

Mar.  2,  1865, 

Oct.  1, 1861, 

Sept.  4,    " 


Remarks. 


Aug.    15, 


12, 

Mar.      2,  1865, 

Aug.   12,  1861, 

"        28,    " 

May      6,    " 

Aug.    14,  " 

12.    " 
"        14,    " 


Wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  4,  '64. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  June  13,  '65. 
Mustered  out   with   Company  June   30,   '65. 
Re-enlisted   March  30.  '64.     Veteran. 
Promoted  to  Corporal  June  13,  '65. 
Mustered  out  with  Company  June  30,  '65. 
As  Private. 

Re-enlisted  March  30,  '64.